OGS: WE'VE STAYED TIGHT & WE'RE READY

The Gaffer was naturally very disappointed at the weekend’s home defeat to Norwich City, but was keen to stress that the quick turnaround of games in the second tier could help his side get back to their usual winning ways.

“In the Championship you don’t have time to think too much, because the next game comes straight away,” he said.

“You don’t have a week to think about what you’re doing, and you need to recover quickly in order to perform in the game on Tuesday. We’ve stayed tight as a group the past couple of days to make sure we are physically and mentally recovered. We’re now confident and looking forward to tomorrow night."

Ole revealed that there was a possibility that Bruno Ecuele Manga, the Gabon international defender who joined the club from French club FC Lorient on transfer deadline day, could come into contention for the visit of Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough.

However, the game could come too soon for winger Craig Noone, who is on his way back from an extended injury spell.

“Bruno will come into consideration for Middlesbrough,” the Manager explained. “He arrived late on Friday afternoon, and I think he’ll be okay. He had a light training session on Saturday morning and then on Monday, so hopefully we’ll get him available for Tuesday evening.

“Nooney will play on Monday at Swansea [DVP fixture], because he needs to get his match fitness up. It would be better him playing in that, than getting a five-minute cameo with the first team and risking his groin again, we can’t do that. He may be back in contention for Derby.

“There won’t be massive changes [on Tuesday], but there will probably be one or two. Fábio has a muscle problem, nothing too serious, but we’ll need to look at him and maybe some of the others as well. There were a few towards the end on Saturday that maybe didn’t have the spring in their step that they did in the first half.”

And as for the specific threat of Middlesbrough, the Manager added: “They’re all big tests. Every side in the division poses different questions, and you’ve just got to come up with the answers.

“Let’s see what we come up with. We need a response, and we need some performances and points in the next few games, there’s no doubt about it. It’s going to be about consistency – if you get a run of good form, you make big strides, but likewise, if you lose two or three, you’re struggling.

“We've had some fantastic noise at Cardiff City Stadium – some of the best atmospheres I’ve ever been part of. We’re looking forward to getting back out there against Boro on Tuesday.