United manager Brian McDermott insists he is looking no further than Saturday’s trip to Derby County – and the opportunity to pick up a second successive league victory.

The Pride Park clash will bring the curtain down on the second phase of the season – there are no games for two weeks due to the international break – and having beaten Bournemouth in midweek, the boss is looking to see his side follow that up by signing off with a rare win at Derby.

“The only thing that mattered in midweek was to beat Bournemouth, and this is the same,” said the boss. “We have a game, then we have two weeks off. Let’s try and get the points then see what happens.

“I think this squad can put on a performance and get a result. That is the only thing that matters. We need a clean sheet if we can and we want to try and follow it up with another positive result.”

Saturday will see Derby’s new head coach Steve McClaren officially in charge for the first time. He did attend the Rams midweek clash with Ipswich when Derby came from 4-1 down to snatch a point in a dramatic 4-4 draw.

“It’s another of those results that sums up this league,” said the boss. “It shows you can’t even relax at 4-1 up. I’ve seen the goals, it looked an amazing game, and I’m sure Mick McCarthy will have been disappointed not to get the victory.

“Steve McClaren will have been working on his team this week and putting his mark on it. We’ve an idea what he will do, and we will be ready.”

The Derby post represents another return to the hot-seat for ex-England boss McClaren. His previous management role in English football lasted barely four months at Nottingham Forest while, prior to joining Derby, he was assisting Harry Redknapp and his staff at QPR.

“Steve was successful at Middlesbrough, had a good stint in Holland, and is well known for being a very, very good coach,” said the United boss.  “He worked his way up after starting at Oxford United, and went on to manage England.  He’s been successful and I’m sure he can be successful at Derby.”