G.M's MatchDay Preview: Can Rams Pip Cherries In Mouth Watering Match Up
Tuesday, 10th Feb 2015 12:50 by George Martin

With both teams in good form, the top of the table Championship clash between Derby and Bournemouth should be a mouth watering encounter.

Both teams like to play good football and do not have any new injury worries after the weekend, so both teams look set to be unchanged.

For Derby, this will mean Shotton continuing at right back with Buxton and Captain Keogh partnering each other in the centre of defence. Mascarell will continue in the holding midfield role as Eustace and Thorne are still on their way back from injury.

Ince and Ward will look to cause havoc from the wide areas and the in form Hughes will string things together in midfield. Hendrick will have gained a lot of confidence with his two goals on Saturday and credit to the coaching staff for sticking with him when he has not been in the best of form.

Albentosa will miss again with a hamstring/nerve injury but Derby will have a very strong bench with Bryson, Bent, Lingard, Dawkins and Christie all hoping to have the chance to make an impact.

For Bournemouth, South African striker Tokelo Rantie is back in the squad after his return from the African Cup of Nations but Baily Cargill and Eunan O'Kane are injured.

They will start danger man Wilson up front who has been an excellent signing and Derby will need to keep an eye on his pace and movement. Winger Ritchie and right full back Francis will aim to cause problems down the left. Derby were interested in signing both players during the pre season and they have proved to be good players.

Kermogant will look to bomb forward from midfield as the free scoring leaders will look to make a good start in the first 15 minutes of the game. Pitman may come on and cause problems from the bench in the second half and Derby will also need to keep an eye on Pugh who is also a good player.

With Bournemouth only having lost one at home out of the last ten and Derby only having lost one out of the last eight with all the statistics indicate a tight affair. Derby have kept a number of clean sheets in the past 8 games but The Cherries are the top scorers in the league, however in saying that Derby are not too far behind them.

Derby need to mark closely and stay compact, getting players behind the ball when not in possession. They need to frustrate Bournemouth just as they did Ipswich a few weeks ago. When in possession Derby must not panic. They need to look after the ball and not give it away cheaply in what is going to be a tough game. Derby needs to utilise the pace of Ince and Ward when on the break and make something of the set pieces in the attacking third.

This is a difficult game to call. Pundits and fans will say it will have a bearing on the promotion race. Personally, I think it is too early to call and in a division where anyone can beat anyone, I don’t think it will have a significant impact.

There are still many, many points to play for and many twists and turns to come yet.

I am going to go for a 2-2 draw with Ince and Martin scoring for Derby. COYR!

League Form / Match Stats:

Bournemouth — 1st (L, W, L, W, W):

Bournemouth has only lost 1 of their last 10 matches at home in the Championship.

Despite flying high this season — Bournemouth’s record against the current top 6 has been mixed having beaten Watford & Brentford, played out draws with Watford, Boro & Ipswich and most importantly lost to Derby 2-0 in September at the iPro.

Bournemouth have only beaten Derby once at home and that was over 30 years ago in August of 1984 when they defeated the Rams 1-0 in the old 3rd Div.

Derby — 2nd (W, L, W, W, W):

Derby have won 4 and drawn 1 of the last 5 meetings between the 2 clubs.

The Rams have won 8 of their last 9 Championship matches.

Derby has won their last 3 matches on the road with an impressive 7 goals for and 0 against.