Conor Hourihane: Derby County captain says promotion talk 'a long way off'
- Published
Conor Hourihane has scored two goals in 10 appearances for Derby this season
Captain Conor Hourihane says Derby County need to avoid being distracted by their League One promotion hopes.
The Rams are eighth in the table after 11 games, two points outside the play-off spots and 10 points off pacesetters Portsmouth.
Despite missing out on the play-offs last term, Derby started the season as one of the promotion favourites.
"I think talking about top two and all that kind of stuff is a long way off," Hourihane, 32, told BBC Radio Derby.
"Everyone is on about top two, play-offs and getting promoted and all that kind of stuff, but ultimately we are not in there.
"We have take care of business in front of us, and be in the present as much as you can."
Derby had to come from behind on Saturday to earn a draw with bottom side Cheltenham Town - a side that had failed to score a single goal in the league before the visit of the Rams.
Paul Warne's Rams are not in league action again until 21 October because of international call-ups, but they do have an EFL Trophy tie at Notts County on Tuesday.
When asked to sum up Derby's start to the season, former Aston Vila and Barnsley midfielder Hourihane said: "Frustrating, if I'm being honest.
"Everyone in the building wanted a better start for sure.
"I don't think it's been the worst start ever, we have been close in a lot of games - a 2-1 [defeat] against Wigan, 2-1 against Oxford, a late goal [in the draw] against Portsmouth, we couldn't get the winner against Cambridge and same against Cheltenham.
"We are vey close, it's fine lines and all that.
"I feel like we are three or four points short of where we should be."