Promotion-chasing Derby County will be bidding to return to winning ways in League One when they continue their campaign at home to playoff hopefuls Blackpool on Friday afternoon.
The Rams are currently second in the table, four points ahead of third-placed Bolton Wanderers, while Blackpool sit in ninth position, three points behind sixth-placed Oxford United.
Match preview
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Derby missed out on the League One playoffs by a single point last season, but they are currently in a strong position to challenge for a return to the Championship for the 2024-25 campaign.
The Rams have a record of 24 wins, six draws and 10 defeats from their 40 league matches this season, which has left them in second position in the table on 78 points, four points ahead of third-placed Bolton, who have a game in hand, and five behind the leaders Portsmouth.
Paul Warne's side posted four straight victories in League One against Port Vale, Bristol Rovers, Reading and Bolton between March 2 and March 16, but they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Northampton Town last time out.
Derby will certainly be looking over their shoulder, as fifth-placed Barnsley are just seven points behind them with two games in hand, demonstrating the importance of returning to winning ways in this contest.
The Rams have the third-best home record in League One this season, picking up 40 points from their 20 matches, while Blackpool have claimed 22 points from their 20 matches on their travels.
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Blackpool are aiming to secure an immediate return to the Championship, having been relegated in 23rd spot last season, and they are currently in a position to challenge for the playoffs.
The Seasiders have collected 60 points from their 39 league matches this season, which is currently enough for ninth position, just three points behind sixth-placed Oxford United.
Neil Critchley's side picked up seven points from their three league games against Shrewsbury Town, Portsmouth and Northampton between March 2 and March 12, but they were beaten 1-0 by Wigan Athletic last time out.
Blackpool's next three matches after this one are all at home, and they have been impressive in front of their own supporters this season, securing 38 points from 19 matches.
As a result, a positive result on Friday would put them in a strong position ahead of their next three games, but they have lost seven of their last eight matches against Derby in all competitions, including a 3-1 defeat in the reverse meeting between the two sides earlier this season.
Team News
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Derby could have both Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Tyrese Fornah in their squad for this match after fitness issues, while James Collins is set to return on Friday after overcoming a knee problem.
However, Max Bird, Josh Vickers, Tom Barkhuizen, Dwight Gayle, Craig Forsyth, Ryan Nyambe, Tyreece John-Jules and Jake Rooney are all out, while Sonny Bradley is suspended due to the red card that he picked up in the latter stages of the clash with Northampton last time out.
Mendez-Laing will start in the final third if he passes a fitness test, having limped off against Northampton with a hamstring issue, and there are unlikely to be many changes on Friday despite the disappointment of the result last time out.
Blackpool, meanwhile, will be sweating over the fitness of Jordan Rhodes, who limped off with a knee injury against Wigan last time out.
Rhodes has scored 15 League One goals this season, but he could be replaced in the XI by Shayne Lavery on Friday, with Jake Beesley also featuring in the final third of the field.
Lavery, who has netted five times in the league this season, was in the Northern Ireland squad for their March internationals, although he was an unused substitute against both Romania and Scotland.
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Wildsmith; Nelson, Elder, Cashin; Wilson, Adams, Hourihane, Sibley; Thompson; Mendez-Laing, Waghorn
Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Pennington, Ekpiteta, Casey; Lawrence-Gabriel, Byers, Noburn, Coulson; Dembele; Lavery, Beesley
We say: Derby County 2-1 Blackpool
Derby remain without a number of first-team players, but the Rams still have a lot of quality in their team, and we are backing them to edge a close game on Friday afternoon, with Blackpool likely to suffer if they are unable to call upon leading goalscorer Rhodes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
