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Home game brings no extra pressure - Dawson

15 April 2016

Head coach Richard Dawson says the defeat by Essex in Gloucestershire's opening Championship match will not change his approach ahead of Derbyshire's visit the Brightside Ground on Sunday.

Essex justified their pre-season status as one of the promotion favourites in Division 2 with a ten wicket victory, but having had some time to reflect on the match Dawson refused to be deflated by the outcome.

"There were definitely some good performances" he said. "Gareth Roderick's batting in both innings, Jack Taylor's batting and bowling and I thought Liam Norwell and Josh Shaw were outstanding. What we didn't do was string enough good sessions together. It was a challenge for the first game against a very good side, and in my opinion they'll be pushing for top spot come the end of the season."

The match is Derbyshire's first in the Championship. They drew a rain disrupted game against played Durham MCCU last week, although Wayne Madsen and Wes Durston were both able to complete unbeaten hundreds.

Having lost Mark Footitt to Surrey, Derbyshire have bolstered their bowling options for the early part of the season by signing Luke Fletcher on loan from Nottinghamshire. New Zealander Hamish Rutherford will captain the side with newly appointed skipper Billy Godleman nursing a broken thumb.

"Fletcher is a good bowler who has performed well for Notts, so he'll add some strength to their attack" Dawson went on. "I know it's only the second game but there is the opportunity for us to see footage of the Derbyshire players if we want to. We also put together notes on the opposition. Each of our players is different, and while some want a lot of information, others prefer less. In any case, we spend a lot of the time concentrating on what we do because every game you go into you've got things you can learn and improve on from the last one."

LAST SEASON : The 2015 fixture against Derbyshire was also the first home Championship match, and it was tilted towards the visitors by an explosive double century from Martin Guptill on the second afternoon. Guptill made 227, and then took four catches in the Gloucestershire second innings to leave Derbyshire a victory target of 142 in 53 overs, a mark achieved with seven wickets in hand.

TEAM NEWS : Head coach Richard Dawson is able to recall David Payne into the squad after a finger injury. His inclusion in place of Ollie Currell is the only change from the opening Championship game against Essex at Chelmsford. Craig Miles' injury will continue to be treated and assessed, with no date yet set for his return.

Squad : Dent, Bancroft, Cockbain, Roderick (c), Marshall, Howell, Noema-Barnett, J Taylor, Shaw, Norwell, Payne, Liddle, Hampton.

Bancroft and Shaw are both likely to sample Championship cricket at the Brightside Ground for the first time, and Dawson wasn't surprised by Shaw's performance on his debut at Chelmsford.

"Josh bowls a great length by bringing the batsman forward and he's always asking questions, particularly if the ball is swinging" Dawson said. "I knew what he would offer us and he proved it last week."

"Derbyshire have some new faces and it'll be a good challenge playing them but there is no more pressure on us this week because it's a home game. The aim is the same - to play some good cricket, put on good show and come out of it with a win."

COVERAGE :

You can follow the match via the live scorecard available on the website, or via Twitter @gloscricket.

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