National League North side Chorley host Championship outfit Derby County in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, with the visitors expected to field a youth side due to a coronavirus outbreak at the club.
The Magpies, who have never faced the Rams in a competitive match, are unbeaten in their last three home games, while Derby lost their 11th league match of the season last Friday away at Sheffield Wednesday.
Match preview
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In what has been a challenging 2020-21 campaign, Derby County were dealt another blow this week when it was announced that head coach Wayne Rooney, his coaching staff and the entire first-team squad will miss the FA Cup tie at Chorley following a coronavirus outbreak, which has also resulted in the club closing their training ground.
The Rams are now set to field a side of Under-18 and Under-23 players, with the FA Cup rules stating that clubs are expected to fulfil their fixtures if they have at least 14 eligible players available, including those from their youth system.
Derby's Professional Development Phase Coaches Pat Lyons and Gary Bowyer are the men expected to take charge of a side that could be even further depleted, with several members of the Under-23's squad having trained with the first team in the last week and so are also unavailable.
Despite the club stating that they are in dialogue with the EFL and the FA about whether the fixture can go ahead, the Rams are to plan as well as they can with the hope of progressing to the next round of the competition.
Derby had been drawn against Premier League opposition for their third round tie in each of their previous four campaigns. However, Saturday's match will be their first at this stage against a side from a lower division since beating former League Two outfit Hartlepool United in 2016.
The Rams would have expected to head into their clash with Chorley as the strong favourites but following the COVID-19 outbreak, now travel to Victory Park as the underdogs, as they were against the top-flight sides they have faced in recent years.
Derby have won each of their last five FA Cup games against teams from a lower division but extending that record to six matches may prove to be a real challenge this weekend.
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Chorley reached the third round of the competition for the first time in their history after a surprise 2-1 away victory against League One side Peterborough United in November.
Jack Taylor gave the Posh an early lead, but second-half strikes from Connor Hall and Mike Calveley secured a shock win against a side three divisions above them.
The Magpies also beat Gateshead, York City and Wigan Athletic prior to their triumph at London Road and have been rewarded with a draw against Championship opposition.
Derby will be the highest ranked side in the English football pyramid that Chorley have faced since they lost 6-0 against Notts County in the FA Cup first round in 1900.
Despite Magpies boss Jamie Vermiglio hoping that Rooney and the first-team squad would be present at Victory Park, Chorley's chances of causing yet another upset have now increased.
Should Chorley secure another shock result on Saturday and reach the fourth round, they will have won as many games in the FA Cup proper this season as they have in their history prior to this campaign.
Chorley FA Cup form: WLWWWW
Chorley form (all competitions): WDLWWL
Derby County FA Cup form: WLWDWL
Derby County form (all competitions): DDWLWL
Team News
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Chorley centre-back Andy Halls could slot into defence as part of a back five alongside captain Scott Leather and Harvey Smith.
Ollie Shenton, who missed last weekend's league defeat at AFC Fylde, should be back in contention to start in midfield.
Striker Connor Hall, who scored goals against Peterborough and Wigan in the previous rounds, is set to start up front alongside Harry Cardwell.
With the entire Derby first team and several Under-23's players ruled out, a youthful starting lineup is expected to be named on Saturday lunchtime.
Chorley possible starting lineup:
Urwin; Birch, Leather, Smith, Halls, Baines; Shenton, Calveley, Newby; Cardwell, Hall
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Idem; McDonald, J. Brown, Solomon, A. Brown; Ibrahim, Dixon, Watson; Whittaker, Hector-Ingram, Stretton
We say: Chorley 1-0 Derby County
Chorley may feel they will never have a better chance of claiming an enormous scalp against Championship opposition this weekend and a place in the fourth round. With the visitors set to name an inexperienced and youthful side, the Magpies may just edge what should be a close encounter.
Top betting tip
Oliver Thomas
