G.M's Match Preview: Derby Must Take Cup Form To Brentford
Saturday, 1st Nov 2014 03:47 by George Martin

Derby got over their poor Wigan performance in some style when coming back brilliantly from two nil down to score five goals in twenty minutes.

The three thousand plus away following had a great time at Fulham after the team were gifted a lifeline when the game seemed lost at 2-0. Martin slotted home the penalty emphatically and there was no looking back. If it had been two nil still at half time, who knows what might have happened in the second half?

The 2-5 win against a young Fulham side secured progress to the quarter finals of the league cup and a home tie with Chelsea in December.

This afternoon Derby will be fully supported by 1,700 away supporters as the away end at Brentford was fully sold out weeks ago.

McClaren and the coaching staff have a 'positive' selection dilemma for their clash with the Bees. Butland should come back into goal and Dawkins will retain his place on the wing after a man of the match performance in mid week. Hopefully Butland's distribution will be better than it was against Wigan.

The major decisions to make are whether to start with Eustace or Mascarell and with Buxton now fit, he will be pushing to start ahead of Whitbread or the now recovered Shotton. Hughes should also start to make way for the unfortunate Hendrick.

I would go with the experience and leadership skills of Eustace and then choose between Buxton and Shotton. It is a good problem to have and with players battling for places, this can only help Derby's cause.

Paul Coutts could find himself back on the bench after coming back from long term injury in mid week. It will be like having a new signing if he stays injury free and finds form in the centre of midfield. However, the bench will be strong and full, so he could miss out.

Promoted last season, Brentford have made a solid start to their campaign in The Championship. They seem to have kept their fine home form going, but have struggled away from home. This from has put them comfortably in mid table. They have only won one game in the past five, but have also only lost game at home all season.

Right back Alan McCormack is out injured as he needs ankle surgery, so Nico Yennaris could deputise but Sam Saunders and Scott Hogan are both unavailable due to knee injuries. Goals seem to be spread around the team as Brentford do not seem to have an out and out goal scorer while Alan Judge will provide quality and experience in midfield.

Brentford like to get the ball down and play, especially at home. This makes them a danger, but by doing this it will also allow Derby to get the ball down and play. They are solid at home and it should be a tight game as they do not score too many goals nor concede too many either.

Derby comfortably beat them 5-0 in the league cup last season, but this should be a different game altogether. If Derby attacks as they did against Fulham, Brentford will not be able to cope.

If Derby defend how they did against Wigan and make the mistakes they did against Fulham it will be a very long day.

This is a difficult game to call.

On this occasion I am going to put splinters on my bottom and go for a score draw; however a clean sheet will get a Derby win.

League Form / Match Stats:

Brentford - 13th (L,W,D,D,L):

The Bee’s home form has been exceptional having won their last two and not beaten in 5.

Despite their good home form have lost 1 and drawn 2 of their last 3 and have not won in nearly a month.

The last time Brentford were beaten at home by Derby was in October 1946.

Derby — 1st (W,D,W,W,L):

The last time the teams met Derby won 5-0 at the iPro in last seasons League Cup (see video below). The Rams have not met Brentford in the League since 1993. They won that League One clash 3-2 at the Baseball Ground.

The Rams have only lost twice in all competitions this season and have won their last 5 away matches — a major factor in them currently sitting top of the Championship.