 Saturday, 16th Apr 2011 11:35 by Daniel J Sewart QPR could seal automatic promotion with a win over the Rams on Monday night but with safety within their grasp and little to lose, could Derby spoil the party and build on their inspiring victory over the damned? Less than two thirds of a Derby crowd will be packed into Loftus Road ready to celebrate their teams return to the big time. Their recent form has been good despite a stumble at Scunthorpe when despite Rob Hulse netting for the hoops, they fell to a 4-1 defeat. Derby looked like they could finally score goals and at times ran riot against their more fancied opposition in Leeds. On the night dirty may have had the superior squad on the team sheet but the Rams put the shoulder to the wheel and out worked the promotion hopefuls. Since their golden run late last year Derby has been unable to string together good, let alone quality performances. With the pressure valve now being released slightly as they head into a clash they are expected to lose, maybe that could be set to change? Nigel Clough definitely thinks so: "The result against Leeds on Tuesday should allow us to relax and play with a little bit more freedom at QPR, we can go there and try to be as positive as we can be and see how we measure up against them.” "For us, it's now all about sending out the right message in the final games as we look ahead to next season. We would like to bring in five or six players and show that we intend to give it a go next season.” "QPR should give us hope for next season. Last year they finished just above us and now they are top, and deservedly so. They brought in a lot of players last summer and they have shown what can be achieved.” “But, hopefully, we can delay their party on Monday night." Clough wants his players to send a message and Shaun Barker wants that message to be fear: "Our form was good (early in the season) and the opposition knew they were in for a tough 90 minutes and more often than not during that run, we scored three or four goals a game.” "Since December though we have found ourselves as underdogs but as a player you want that pressure of being expected to win every week.” “That is one of the big reasons I came here, for the great support and the expectation that comes with playing for Derby County.” "People feared us a few months ago, and we want that to be the case again." Messages of fear to Stephen Pearson’s hopes of crashing a party as the Scotsman hopes to continue his mid-week form, when he produced one of his best performances in a Derby shirt: "These are the games you want to play in, QPR will be looking to finish the job off and make sure they get over the line.” "They've had a great season and it will be a tough game but it's one we're looking forward to now, on the back of four points out of six. We want to go there and try to spoil the party, so to speak, and we'll go there with confidence.” "If we keep playing at a high tempo, press them and get in their faces, like we did against Leeds, it makes us really difficult to play against." "Tuesday night was a big win for us and gives us a bit more breathing space but we still want to finish as high up the table as we can and get as many points as we can.” "We're obviously looking to finish the season off as well as we can, personally and collectively. And we also want to do it for the supporters, because they have had a difficult season.” "It's been a very up-and-down season for us, so we want to go out on a high.” Positive words from the Derby camp but as we know talk is cheap when it comes to match day. A match day that will be watched all over the world with viewers tuning in expecting to see a promotion party not a lowly opposition acting as party poopers. The Rams will need to re-produce the run and pressure coupled with attacking intent they showed against Leeds if they are to have any chance of causing an upset. That and keeping Rob Hulse well away from goal to ensure the Rams former player curse cannot kick in. It sounds like a job for our all action vice captain if ever there was one! The Rams will be without the Pride Park faithful acting as a thirteenth man but if they can silence the Rangers supporters, the loyal travelling Rams will as always be heard loud and proud in support of their heroes. Let’s hope their heroes give them plenty to sing about.
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