Full-back Gareth confident that Rams can make quick recovery after Cup blow

GARETH Roberts is confident Derby County can quickly bounce back from their FA Cup disappointment.

The Rams suffered a 3-0 fourth round defeat to Blackburn Rovers at Pride Park Stadium last weekend.

However, they have a chance to make amends for their exit when they return to Championship action at home to Huddersfield Town today.

And Roberts believes Nigel Clough's men can swiftly banish memories of the Blackburn tie.

"We'd have liked to have gone far in the FA Cup – but we're out now, so we'll put our full concentration into the League," said the experienced defender.

"Our priority is the League. Obviously, we would have loved to go through and get a big team in the next round of the Cup.

"But that's not going to happen now and we just have to get on with it.

"We've got another home game, in the League, this weekend, so we'll look to go and get three points.

"We'll get our heads down in training and go again, ready for Saturday.

"We shouldn't have a problem putting the Blackburn game out of our minds.

"There's nothing we can do about the Cup now and we're looking forward to the Huddersfield game.

"The gaffer will get us ready for that and we'll be going for the win."

A run of 12 games without a League win cost Huddersfield manager Simon Grayson his job, despite having led the team to promotion last season.

Former Derby player and coach Mark Lillis is in caretaker charge, with recently sacked Southampton boss Nigel Adkins being linked with the vacant manager's role.

Roberts, though, is not concerning himself with off-the-field matters at the Yorkshire club, who claimed a morale-boosting 1-0 win over high-flying Crystal Palace on Wednesday night to follow their 1-1 FA Cup draw with Leicester City last weekend.

"We can't control anything that is going on there," said the 34-year-old left-back. "All we can control is what we do. Whatever 11 they have out against us, we've just got to go and play our football like we have been playing at home.

"If we do that, we'll cause them problems."

Derby go into the Huddersfield game in 13th place – now nine points off a play-off spot.

"We've got 18 games to go and we'll just try to win as many of those as we can – and see where that gets us," said Roberts.

"Hopefully, we can maintain our good home form and keep winning games here.

"And if we can pick up our away form and get a few more wins here and there, you never know.

"It would be nice to get into the play-offs but all we can do is take it one game at a time and see what happens."

Amid the low of Derby's FA Cup exit was more encouraging news of a total of 10 international call-ups for the club.

Roberts, a former Wales international himself, said: "It's fantastic for the club and a lot of it is down to the gaffer, with the players he has brought in and the way he wants us to play.

"I'm made up for all the lads who have been called up and, hopefully, they'll get in and play some games – and get a lot more caps in the future.

"It's brilliant for the club and the future looks bright."