Derby 'aware of enormity' of Pompey game

Derby boss Paul Warne is the longest serving manager in the Championship

Derby County boss Paul Warne says he is "well aware of the enormity" of Friday's game against Portsmouth at Pride Park.

The Rams ended a three-match losing run with a goalless draw at third-placed Burnley on Tuesday but have managed only one win from their past 11 matches.

Derby's home game with Portsmouth, a side four places and four points behind the 17th-placed Rams, is the East Midlands club's third in six days - having started with a chastening defeat by high-flyers Leeds United seven days earlier.

"It would be remiss of me to say that our season won't be judged by Leeds away but will be judged by any team in the bottom half at home," Warne told BBC Radio Derby.

"It is a big game, you do want to win. We do need a win and we do need a good home performance and coming into the Christmas period it would be great if we can get this win."

After losing back-to-back home games against Swansea and Sheffield Wednesday, trips to Leeds and a Burnley proved to be huge challenges for Derby as expected.

The Rams were set up to stifle both sides, and managed just one shot on target in each game where they were afforded little control of proceedings.

While they left Elland Road with nothing, and Warne lamenting he only had a "League One team with a sprinkling of sugar" up against a Premier League-quality outfit, they did manage to grab a point at Turf Moor.

Warne says Derby will need to be at their "very best" if they are to end their six-game winless run with victory against a Portsmouth side that they finished runners-up to in the League One title race last season.

Pompey travel to Pride Park just a point and place above the relegation zone, having won twice in a four-game unbeaten run dating back to 9 November.

When asked if the game against a Portsmouth side near the bottom of the table with them has "more edge" to it, compared to the games against Leeds and Burnley, Warne replied: "It has got that element."

"I'm not that guy who is going to say it is a 12-pointer or anything crazy like that. But its the same way for Portsmouth, they will look at this game as a good win for them," Warne added.

"It's too early to start looking at who you are competing with, but I'm aware that every game is crucial.

"We have to try to get the best out of our players and perform well against a very good team. So I'm well aware of the enormity of this game.

"On the run of three tough games, this is the one that we need to pick up all three points or give a really good performance to give ourselves a chance to."