The Rams are five points behind Pompey, and a win could push them six points ahead of third-placed Bolton Wanderers.
It will be a loud night, no matter what happens,” Warne told Rams Daily.
I don’t believe the Fratton Park crowd will turn against their team because they are educated football fans. They’ll like the fact that we work well together.”
Derby’s Adams enjoying football in Ramadan Warne’s efforts to relax ahead of a vital game were aided by a 1-0 win at home to Blackpool on Friday, bringing Derby back to winning ways for the fifth time in six games.
I did take the dog out on Saturday,” he explained. I had a couple of drinks at half past six. By eight o’clock, I’d had enough, which demonstrates my exceptional drinking ability.
I enjoyed my day away. Surprisingly, the players require time apart from us all. I get it; we are difficult to live with.
They require rest, both physically and mentally. Everyone’s exhausted, so I understand how the fans feel.
For all of the coaches and everyone that works here, you deserve a break. Next weekend, I might return to Norfolk and take my dog for a lucky walk along the beach. My dog is my best friend, truly.
Then you’re totally energised again, since we need to go all out in the final two weeks.
I want to go for it.
While Derby would be guaranteed a play-off spot with a win and all but assured of a place in the top six with a draw, three points for Portsmouth would put John Mousinho’s excellent team on the verge of Championship football, with a game in hand on the Rams and five games remaining.
It would be good to establish ourselves in the play-off places, added Warne, who hopes to win at least three more games after finishing seventh by one point last season. “It would be disastrous if we didn’t.
It is different for them. They’re undoubtedly thinking that they’re only two wins away from moving up. Even if we beat them, they are at the top of the league.
Even if we don’t pick up anything, you know you’ll be in a great position if you win the following game.
I don’t perceive them as considerably better; they’re simply more consistent. On their best days, they can compete with any of the top six teams.
You may look your guys in the eyes and say, ‘I think we’re as good as the competition, but we’re going to sit behind the ball.’ That’s not how I want to do it. I want to win the game, therefore I’m going for it.
Bolton defeated Reading on Monday, but Peterborough United and Barnsley both won, putting them seven points behind Derby with a game in hand.
Warne believes the “nervous exhaustion” of following other games in the promotion race before they end is “just not worth it – but he hopes the results will allow him to take a holiday on his birthday.
County will play the second leg of their play-off semi-final on the day their manager turns 51, if they finish third or sixth, or a day earlier if they finish fourth or fifth.
It would be nice if I had the sea between my toes on May the 8th,” said Warne. “That would be fantastic.
I wasn’t really trying for promotion, but now that you’ve mentioned my birthday, I might as well try a little harder.
