Paul Warne lifts lid on Christmas plans as secret to beating Leeds United and West Brom revealed
Paul Warne has laid bare his Christmas plans as he prepares for a tough festive double header against West Brom and Leeds United.
Both of the Championship promotion hopefuls are at Pride Park to play Derby County - Albion on Boxing Day at 5.30pm and Leeds on December 29 at 5.45pm.
And Warne, still smarting from a cruel 2-1 defeat at Luton Town on Friday evening, admits it will be tough on his players - although they will get time with their families.
Reflecting on the Kenilworth Road loss and what comes next for the Rams, Warne told Sky Sports: “It's probably no different than anybody else's Christmas plans. We have to work. We enjoy going into work, but I have to let the lads also spend time with their families.
READ MORE: Paul Warne in 'full steam' Derby County transfer admission after links emerge
READ MORE: Paul Warne's January to-do list now crystal clear as Derby County positions under scrunity
“Christmas is a good time of year and everyone loves coming to Boxing Day games, so hopefully we can put a level of performance in and the game won't be as cruel (as it was at Luton).”
The Hatters left it late to seal a comeback win over a Derby team who had looked odds-on to claim a second successive victory after beating Portsmouth last week. They led going into the final few minutes at Kenilworth Road after Kayden Jackson’s smart movement and clinical header.
However, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu’s volley deflected off team-mate Tom Holmes for an 89th-minute leveller before Carlton Morris grabbed an added-time winner to send the Kenilworth Road crowd into ecstasy.
Defeat leaves Derby 16th in the Championship on a run of just one win in their last eight games and those tough festive fixtures to come.
Warne added: “It's disappointing, obviously, but we'll see the lads in about 10 hours' time and we'll go again. I was pleased with how we played at Luton, and I think we got our shape right for the game. It’s just that the end result was disappointment.”
Former Rams captain Curtis Davies was a pundit for Sky covering the game, and he warned both West Brom and Leeds that they would not find it easy to claim points at Pride Park.
He explained: “Yes, they are difficult, but two home games though - and Pride Park will be rocking, especially around Christmas.
“It's a tough place to go for anyone. The opposition is going to be difficult, yes, but at Pride Park Derby they could beat anyone.”
