Derby should welcome back Darren Bent up front as they aim to secure a play off spot by winning their final match of the season.

The coaching team will have to decide on the formation as they look to try and get the balance right between defence and attack.

Reports mid week suggested Stephen Warnock may play in the CDM role. However, fans are unsure he has the technically ability or mobility to succeed in this position.

Yes, the defence needs some form of protection but the 4-3-2-1 formation does not work as well when Martin or Eustace/Thorne do not play.

Bent does not hold the ball up, win free kicks or bring others into play, this invites pressure onto the defence and Bent ends up being isolated while Derby have less possession.

Despite the result, the performance against Wolves away was good, and but for individual errors (again!), the final score may have been different. On that evening Derby played a 4-2-3-1 (like Chelsea) formation. The other alternative is a 4-4-1-1 with possibly Russell playing behind Bent. We will see. . . . .

Jamie Ward should start on the left to give more protection to Forsyth as Derby are too lightweight in midfield. He gets back, works hard and gives the midfield some bite. How he has played hardly any minutes at all in the past few weeks is beyond me.

Hendrick and Hughes should continue in the middle with ‘Championship Player of the Month’ Ince continuing on the right. The back four will probably be Shotton, Keogh, Albentosa and Forsyth.

There is no return for the injured Whitbread, Bryson, Thorne or Buxton. Martin should once again make the bench and sit alongside who is left from the midfielders who may or may not start. These include Lingard, Ward, Russell and Dawkins.

Reading's league form has dipped since their amazing run in the F.A Cup when they reached the semi final which was a brilliant achievement. Unfortunately they have been unable to win any of their last 9 games in the Championship, losing the last four, including a 2-1 defeat to Rotherham in mid week. Their last league win was 2-1 against Brighton in March.

Their away form in also poor, not having won any of their last 7 away games in all competitions, losing four. Their last win on the road was a creditable 1-0 at Ipswich in the middle of February

Reading does have some injury doubts to some good and key players. Manager Clarke could be without midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah. Centre forwards Pavel Pogrebnyak and Jamie Mackie have also picked up knocks. However, wide man Hal Robson-Kanu should be fit and on his day he can be a quality threat from out wide. Norwood should also start in midfield and Cox up front.

Reading's approach to the game will be interesting. They have nothing to play for, but they may want to try and cause an upset. If Derby play well and take the lead, then hopefully the Reading players will be thinking more of Dubai, than battling out for three points at the I Pro.

Hopefully Derby will get the job done by winning the game and take some confidence into the play offs. If they do not win the game then they do not actually deserve to have made the play offs anyway.

The last third of the season has been a huge disappointment and mistakes have been made on and off the pitch with certain signings, formations and the boring Newcastle speculation.

Yes, injuries have not helped, but they started months ago and there has been time to turn things round.

Anyway, only a confidence boosting and convincing win will do as Derby will not want to limp over the line.

A home win for the The Rams, 3-1.

A personal thank you if you have ever bothered to read my previews. I hope they have been ok and I hope this one won’t be my last this season!

Thanks for a good/bad/exciting/disappointing season.

Who knows, we may still make the premier league!

#believe

League Position / Form / Stats:

Derby: 5th - D, W, D, W, D, D

There will be a minute applause in memory of Colin Bloomfield on Saturday. Colin was a popular BBC Radio Derby presenter who sadly passed away last weekend after a long battle with cancer at the age of 33.

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