Roy warns Rams to stay on their toes

ROY Carroll feels understanding at the back is growing for Derby County but the experienced goalkeeper knows the Rams must stay on their toes.

Derby have named the same defence and keeper in the past five matches, and results have improved. The Rams have won two, drawn two and lost one.

Victories have come against Preston in the Carling Cup and Sheffield United in the Championship. Draws were recorded against Swansea and Cardiff, and the defeat was at Barnsley in a match Derby controlled for 70 minutes until Iain Hume's cracker set the Tykes on their way to a 2-0 win.

Carroll is again set to line up behind full-backs Paul Connolly and Jordan Stewart, and centre-backs Martin Albrechtsen and Dean Leacock this afternoon as the Rams take on Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

"You need that understanding at the back. We have got a settled back four and we have been playing well together but there are still things to work on," said Carroll.

"There are a few minutes in the game when you can switch off and it can prove costly. So we need to keep on our toes.

"Against Cardiff last Saturday, I don't think they had a shot on target in the whole game and then we gave a penalty away. That was disappointing but we got a point out of the game.

"As long as we don't lose and keep building on the points tally, that is the main thing."

Carroll joined Derby from Glasgow Rangers in January and suffered with the rest of the team in the nightmare Premier League campaign.

He made 14 appearances and was beaten six times on three different occasions as the Rams were thrashed by Chelsea, Aston Villa and Arsenal on their way to relegation.

Derby lost three of their first four Championship matches and slumped to the foot of the table before a win against Sheffield United sparked an unbeaten run of three games.

Carroll, the Northern Ireland international, says there is now a renewed confidence in the camp.

"Last season has gone. The manager brought in a lot of players in the summer and from the first day back, everybody was looking forward to doing well in the Championship. Since we beat Sheffield United we have pushed on," he added.

"Confidence is important. The victory over Sheffield United got that run without a win off our back. It is a good feeling when you get a win under your belt.

"The players know what they can do and they are now more relaxed but there is still a long way to go. It's a long season and a very hard season as well.

"We are unbeaten in three but we are not getting carried away."

We've got a big game at QPR but the lads are working really hard and hopefully we will go there and get a good result.

"QPR put Aston Villa out of the Carling Cup but they got beat at Coventry last weekend. We are going there unbeaten in three and we are looking to keep the run going.

"If we can, it will add to the belief in the camp."