Clough was named Rams boss in January 2009

Derby County manager Nigel Clough has played down his side's promotion prospects despite seeing them climb to seventh in the Championship table.

The Rams play host to another in-form side in Portsmouth on Saturday and could move into the play-off places.

Clough told BBC Radio Derby: "It's too early for anybody in the league to say 'this is where we'll be in six months'.

"It was a relegation season when we went into the bottom three so are we a promotion or relegation team?"

He added: "We're less than a third of the way through the season. You won't hear us speculating on that.

606: DEBATE What as astounded me has been the speed of the transformation from mediocre/poor to what we see now watnallram

"All season the lads have played well. Sometimes you lose games but you think 'we've played OK' so it's easier to bear when it's like that.

"But it's much better to get the results and it's lovely seeing the players getting confidence."

And Clough is well aware Pompey will also be full of confidence when they visit Pride Park on Saturday.

He said: "Portsmouth have won six out of seven they had a tough start but when you have the quality that they have got throughout the line-up then it will always show through."

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