Rams aiming for automatic promotion next season - Travis

[Getty Images]

Derby County captain Lewis Travis says the side will be aiming for automatic promotion next season after missing out on a chance to enter this campaign's play-offs.

The Rams occupied the sixth place spot at half-time on Saturday before a second half comeback by Sheffield United pushed them to a 2-1 defeat, although Hull City's victory against Norwich meant even all three points would not have been enough to earn Derby a play-off spot.

However, despite their disappointment on the final day of the season, the Rams still accumulated 19 points more than their 2024-25 campaign, when they avoided relegation by just one point.

"We are gutted obviously but I think ultimately, if you look at the football club as a whole, we are going in the right direction," Travis told BBC Radio Derby.

"It's night and day from last year. Even if you look back at pre-season, we didn't have a pre-season to gel.

"We've got a solid group of players here. Hopefully we can keep all the loan players and add some good additions and go and chase that top two next season."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Listen to more Derby County content on BBC Sounds