Derby are 'a little bit like ourselves' - Rowett

Oxford United manager Gary Rowett says his team's performances have "warranted more points", as he draws on similarities to weekend opponents Derby.

The Us are 22nd in the Championship after winning one match this season - a 3-1 victory over Bristol City.

Oxford have drawn three games, and their five defeats have all been by just one goal.

"A lot of our performances have been pretty positive as a whole, and probably warranted some more points," Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford. "I think that is just a fact.

"What we have got to do now is make sure we get more points, because what we don't want to do is we don't want to be sat where we are in a very difficult division for too long, it is as simple as that.

"I don't think our performances have warranted us being sat there for too long."

Oxford host Derby on Saturday (12:30 BST), where a win would see them leapfrog The Rams in the table.

"I assess the game against Derby like I would any other game," added Rowett.

"Whether I have played there or not. I have got a pretty strong history with the club as a player, youth coach, manager and I live in the area.

"They are a little bit like ourselves, where John [Eustace] went in there and did a fantastic job to keep them in the division last year, it looked like a very difficult job.

"And a very similar challenge to us this year where you have some new ideas and some new things you want to do, and they have not quite gelled points wise and in terms of where you want to be right at this moment."

Listen to the full interview with Rowett and more on the U's on Sounds.