BRYAN Hughes believes the Derby County fans will get fully behind the team for Friday night's Pride Park clash with Coventry City.

The Rams take on the Sky Blues in front of the live television cameras, with both teams in need of a win.

Derby's last outing at Pride Park, also televised live, ended in a 4-2 defeat against Queens Park Rangers after Nigel Clough's men had led 2-0.

The home fans showed their frustration during and after that match as some threw white T-shirts, handed out free before the game, on to the pitch.

Hughes made his Rams debut against QPR following his loan move from Hull City.

He also tasted defeat at bottom-of-the-table Ipswich Town last Saturday.

Derby have now lost three in a row and eight in their last 11 outings.

This run has seen Clough's side slip to within a couple of places of the Championship relegation zone.

Hughes knows the players will be under pressure against Coventry but is confident the Pride Park faithful will do all they can to help the team.

"Obviously, there will be pressure from the fans because we conceded four goals in our last home game, which is not nice, especially after going 2-0 up," said the midfielder.

"But I think the fans will be right behind us from the start against Coventry.

"We just have to show them that we are committed and trying to do the right things.

"Then, hopefully, we can get the goals that will win us the game."

Hughes felt Derby were unlucky to leave Portman Road empty-handed at the weekend after a spirited display.

"All the positives are there for everyone to see," he added.

"We are going in the right direction. We just need to get points on the board.

"Maybe we need to play badly and we might nick a 1-0 win.

"From what I've seen on the training ground and in games, there are players here who can play at a high level.

"We just need to click as a team. I thought we did that at Ipswich but we need to do that consistently.

"We're going into the Coventry game confident. As we have seen in this league, everyone can beat everyone, so we've got to make sure we are right on the night and come away with the points."

On a personal note, Hughes is delighted to be playing first-team football again after being frozen out at Hull.

"I've not had a lot of first-team for a long time now," said the experienced 33-year-old.

"Nigel has given me the opportunity to come and play and I take my hat off to him for that.

"He gave me a start against QPR and played 70 minutes there. I felt a bit tired towards the end of that one but, at Ipswich, I felt much stronger.

"Even in the last minute, I felt I could have gone on for longer.

"You can't buy match fitness. You just need to play games and, hopefully, I will be getting fitter and fitter with each one."