MX23RW : Friday, December 27 05:41:49| >> :120:24483:24483:
[monks data]
Derby logo
Championship
Aug 29, 2015 at 12.05pm UK
 
Leeds logo

1-2

Martin (48')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Adeyemi (43'), Wood (88')

Preview: Derby County vs. Leeds United

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday lunchtime's Championship match as two sides who have drawn every game so far, Derby County and Leeds United, meet.

Almost half of the Championship matches this season have been draws, and the two teams that have been held in every league match so far meet at the iPro Stadium in Saturday's lunchtime kickoff.

Both Derby County and Leeds United will be after their first maximum of the season in the final round of fixtures before the first international break of the campaign.


Derby

Johnny Russell of Derby County celebrates after he scores his teams opening goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Derby County at St Andrews (stadium) on August 21, 2015© Getty Images

Promotion favourites at the start of the season after a summer of big spending, Derby are already six points off the pace following their underwhelming start to the campaign.

If you include last season's winless end to the season, the Rams are now without a league win in seven attempts, drawing six and losing one.

They have fallen behind and fought back to draw the last three games 1-1 after going out of the Capital One Cup to League Two Portsmouth, and Johnny Russell has been their saviour in the last two against Middlesbrough and Birmingham City.

It is the first time since December that the Scot has scored in back-to-back league games; he has never netted in three successive league games for the Rams.

In his first managerial job, former Real Madrid assistant Paul Clement hasn't been helped by key injuries in midfield and reports suggest that he is chasing a new signing to cover for the loss of Will Hughes (ruptured ACL), with Adam Forshaw, Jacob Butterfield and Alex Pritchard linked with moves to the iPro Stadium.

If Derby are to push towards the top six as expected, they will have to sort out their home form - they have won just one of their last eight in the league and that was against doomed Blackpool towards the end of last season.

Recent form: DLDDD


Leeds

Leeds manager Uwe Rosler during the game with Reading on August 16, 2015© Getty Images

Like Derby, Leeds have had a free midweek as they went out of the League Cup at the first hurdle.

The Whites are unbeaten in six Championship games, but have drawn their last five league games in a row including the goalless stalemate with Rotherham United on the final day of last season. That equals a joint-club record also set in 1962 and 1997.

Last time out at home to Sheffield Wednesday, Uwe Rosler's men fell behind to a volley out of nowhere from Marco Matias before Chris Wood stabbed home to earn a point against their Yorkshire rivals.

Like Russell, Wood, a £3m summer signing from Leicester City, has scored in consecutive games, ending a run of 19 competitive games without a goal.

Deadline day is five days away and Rosler has been keen on signing two or three new players before the window shuts.

Leicester City defender Liam Moore is a target, while a move for Watford's Fernando Forestieri is thought to be in the balance.

Recent form: DLLLD


Team News

Leeds United's Lewis Cook in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Fulham at Elland Road on December 13, 2014© Getty Images

The midfield trio of Jeff Hendrick, Jamie Hanson and Craig Bryson are not expected to be ready in time to play, so Chris Baird could continue in the centre of midfield next to George Thorne.

Andreas Weimann and Ryan Shotton came off the bench against Birmingham and will be hoping to be included in the starting lineup.

Leeds, meanwhile, are able to welcome back Lewis Cook after his three-game ban, and the young midfielder is expected to earn a recall at the expense of fellow academy product Kalvin Phillips.

Alex Mowatt has dropped to the bench for the last two, but he could return here if Rosler ditches Mirco Antenucci in favour of a more midfield-heavy formation, with Wood continuing to lead the line after his goals against Bristol City and Wednesday.

Derby possible starting lineup:
Carson; Christie, Keogh, Shackell, Forsyth; Baird, Thorne; Russell, Ince, Weimann; Martin

Leeds possible starting lineup:
Silvestri; Berardi, Cooper, Bamba, Taylor; Adeyemi, Cook, Mowatt; Byram, Dallas; Wood


Head To Head

Both games last season finished as 2-0 wins for the home side, with Antenucci scoring both of Leeds's goals in their 2-0 win over Derby at Elland Road last season.

That was Leeds's only victory in their last 13 league games against the Rams (D2 L10) and their record at the iPro Stadium is poor.

Derby have won each of their last six league games at home to Leeds and are unbeaten in their last eight against them in DE24.


Video Preview

Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:



Sports Mole Logo

We say: Derby 2-0 Leeds

Surely it can't be a fifth straight draw for these two - something has got to give. Derby are at home and should have enough to get past Leeds given their recent home record against the Whites.



ID:242180: cacheID:242180:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:10784:
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
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:
Paul Clement manager of Derby County during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Middlesbrough at Pride Park Stadium on August 18, 2015
Read Next:
Preview: Birmingham City vs. Derby County
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds23146343152848
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd23155332131948
3Burnley2313823092147
4Sunderland23128336201644
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2211562720738
6Watford2211473229337
7Middlesbrough23106741311036
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2381142718935
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds239683133-233
10Swansea CitySwansea238692724330
11Bristol City237972728-130
12Norwich CityNorwich237883935429
13Millwall227782220228
14Derby CountyDerby2376102929027
15Coventry CityCoventry2376103234-227
16Preston North EndPreston2351172329-626
17Queens Park RangersQPR2351082331-825
18Luton TownLuton2374122539-1425
19Stoke CityStoke2357112332-922
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2256112439-1521
21Portsmouth214892637-1120
22Hull City2347122132-1119
23Cardiff CityCardiff2246122137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2246122249-2718


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!