Derby County will look to extend their unbeaten league run to 11 matches when they welcome Accrington Stanley to Pride Park on Monday.
While the Rams finished 2022 in the playoff places, Accrington begin the new year in the League One relegation zone.
Match preview
© Reuters
Since losing to Ipswich Town on October 21, Derby have embarked on a 10-game unbeaten league run, which has been made up of four wins and six draws.
While Derby boss Paul Warne may be frustrated that some of those draws were not converted into victories, he would have been pleased with their 1-0 win over Cambridge on Friday.
After playing out a goalless first half, Lewis Dobbin scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 57th minute, leaving the Rams in fifth place.
As a result of the victory, they have kept three consecutive clean sheets, while Sheffield Wednesday (13) are the only team to have recorded more shutouts than Derby (11) in League One this season.
The Rams will also take confidence from their recent form at Pride Park after winning four of their last five home matches in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Accrington dropped into the relegation zone after losing to a Morecambe side that sit bottom of the League One table.
First-half goals from Liam Shaw and Jensen Weir guided Morecambe to a 2-0 victory that ended Accrington's run of four straight competitive away wins.
Monday's visitors also enjoyed a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions before the Morecambe defeat, although their recent form in the league is far less encouraging.
In their previous 11 matches in League One, John Coleman's side have recorded one victory, three draws and seven defeats.
While they have only kept one clean sheet in that 11-game period, Accrington have failed to score more than one goal in each of their last eight league matches, and Coleman will know that his side will need to improve at both ends of the pitch if they are to avoid relegation this season
Team News
The hosts are expected to be without the services of James Chester, although the defender is nearing a return from a calf injury after resuming full training.
Following Derby's narrow 1-0 win over Cambridge, Warne may be tempted to name an unchanged lineup for Monday's contest.
James Collins will continue to lead the line for the Rams, and the forward will be looking to add to the seven goals that he has scored this season.
As for the visitors, they are still without the services of Michael Nottingham, although Sean McConville returned from injury to feature as a substitute against Morecambe.
While McConville is expected to remain on the bench as Accrington manage his comeback, Coleman could make one change to the side that lost 2-0 on Thursday.
Josh Woods may be brought into the starting lineup to partner Tommy Leigh in the forward line, which could result in Shaun Whalley dropping out of the side.
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Wildsmith; Smith, Forsyth, Cashin, Sibley; Hourihane, Bird; Mendez-Laing, McGoldrick, Dobbin; Collins
Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Savin; Astley, Conneely, Rodgers; Clark, Coyle, Pritchard, Longelo-Mbule; Hamilton, Woods, Leigh
We say: Derby County 2-0 Accrington Stanley
Derby have proven to be a tough team to beat, and after winning their last two home matches, we think that they will continue their impressive home form by recording a victory over an Accrington side who have won only one of their last 11 league games.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
