Derby capable of avoiding relegation - Osborn

Ben Osborn has made 21 appearances for Derby County this season

Midfielder Ben Osborn is convinced Derby County have what it takes to avoid relegation, despite plunging into the Championship drop zone for the first time this season.

Saturday's 2-1 loss against fellow strugglers Cardiff City dropped the East Midlands club to 22nd spot, two points adrift of safety.

Having twice suffered Premier League relegation with Sheffield United, and once survived in the Championship on goal difference when at Nottingham Forest, Osborn says he is used to the battle.

"I've seen it loads of times - I've been in quite a few relegation scraps unfortunately," the 30-year-old told BBC Radio Derby.

"We are not in a great place at the moment in terms of form. You just do need that result, but I am confident we can get out of it."

Since beating promotion hopefuls West Bromwich Albion in late December, Derby have suffered six successive Championship defeats to tumble eight places into the bottom three.

Their run also includes a seventh defeat, when they were knocked out of the FA Cup by League One side Leyton Orient on penalties.

Despite the woeful run of results, Osborn said the victory against West Brom, as well as convincing wins against Bristol City and Portsmouth earlier in the season, is evidence of the Rams' capabilities.

"In other teams where I have been in relegation scraps, whenever we won it was scrappy 1-0 or 2-1 or something like that, and here we have had some really good performances where we have run all over other teams. And that doesn't happen if you are a team destined to be near the bottom of the table," he said.

"So we have got it in us. But first and foremost we need to take the lead in games, but failing that we need to be a bit more resolute throughout the whole 90 minutes."

In Derby's fight to avoid an immediate return to League One they next face Osborn's former side, high-flying Sheffield United on Saturday.