Andy-Buckley-Taylor’s Derby County blog: Charlton Athletic will provide a good test for on form Derby

The last three fixtures have seen the Rams come through three different situations to claim three points.

They quickly seized their authority on the game at Wigan by grabbing three early goals. The home game with Middlesbrough saw a need to grind out a result in an awful game and then last week it was having to be patient against Blackpool.

Going in a goal down at half-time must have been infuriating for Derby as they had dominated the game.

They continued to do so in the second half and got their just rewards by turning the game into a 5-1 demolition of Paul Ince’s high flying team.

Ok, we were lucky to get the first penalty, but no-one who knows anything about football can deny that we thoroughly deserved the three points.

What has been pleasing is the performances from loan duo Simon Dawkins and Andre Wisdom.

Wisdom has been a revelation at right-back and quickly won over the fans mourning the sale of John Brayford. Simon Dawkins has also added some much needed power up front and always looks a threat when on a forward run.

We head into the run into Christmas with more optimism than in recent years and nothing could be better than putting pressure on the teams above us. It’s too early to even talk play offs, nevermind automatic promotion, but the belief and ambition needs to continue.

Charlton will provide us with a good test and are managed by former Derby left-back Chris Powell. Hopefully the lads can come back from London with another valuable three points from our travels.