MX23RW : Monday, December 23 23:20:12| >> :600:470660:470660:
[monks data]
Derby logo
Championship
Nov 8, 2014 at 12.15pm UK
 
Wolves logo

5-0

Shotton (16'), Hendrick (28', 55'), Russell (42', 60')
FT(HT: 3-0)

Preview: Derby County vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's early Championship kickoff as fellow promotion hopefuls Derby and Wolves face each other at the iPro Stadium.

Derby County would move to the top of the Championship table with a victory over fellow promotion candidates Wolverhampton Wanderers at the iPro Stadium in Saturday's early kickoff.

The Rams suffered a minor blip recently with back-to-back league defeats that saw them slip out of the automatic promotion places, but they returned to winning ways on Tuesday courtesy of a 3-2 victory over Huddersfield Town.

As a result, they now sit fourth in the standings, one point behind the top two of Bournemouth and Middlesbrough, who face each other later on Saturday.

Steve McClaren will be happy with the timely return to form, particularly as the victory came at home, where they had won just one of their previous five league outings.

The former England boss has a decision to make in terms of who plays in the wide forward roles, however, with Jordan Ibe, Johnny Russell and Simon Dawkins all finding the back of the net against Huddersfield.

He may be tempted into naming an unchanged lineup, however, with no new injury concerns to worry about going into the weekend.

Wolves, meanwhile, would move level on points with the top two if they can pick up the victory, although their vastly inferior goal difference means that they will not end the weekend in the automatic promotion spots.

Kenny Jackett will be looking for a response from his side following their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Ipswich Town on Tuesday, their first loss in six league matches.

Still, though, it has been a triumphant return to the second tier of English football so far for the reigning League One champions, and victory this Saturday would really showcase their promotion credentials.

However, they have only won one of their last six matches on the road and just two all season, with four draws to go along with their two away defeats.

The loss to the Tractor Boys last time out came at an even bigger cost as David Edwards was forced off early with a serious knee injury, and Michael Jacobs could be the man to fill the gap in midfield.

Bakary Sako will continue in the side following his nomination for October's Player of the Month award, but recent signing Tomasz Kuszczak is likely to be on the bench again as Carl Ikeme continues in goal.

Recent form

Derby: WLWLWW

Wolves: LDWWDD

Possible starting lineups

Derby: Butland; Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth; Hendrick, Mascarelli, Hughes; Ibe, Martin, Russell

Wolves: Ikeme; Doherty, Batth, Ebanks-Landell, Rowe; McDonald, Evans, Henry, Jacobs, Sako; Clarke

Sports Mole says: 1-1


ID:186844: cacheID:186844:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5268:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jordon Ibe of Derby County is mobbed after scoring the first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Huddersfield Town at iPro Stadium on November 4, 2014
Read Next:
McClaren hails Derby response
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!