G.M's Match Preview: Positive Powell To Make It Two On The Trot For Rams
Friday, 30th Sep 2016 07:15 by George Martin

After a very poor start to the season and a home defeat to Blackburn, some Derby fans already thought Nigel Pearson shouldn’t be in charge when Derby travelled to Cardiff on Tuesday night.

What no Derby fan expected were the circumstances in which Pearson found himself no longer in charge of The Rams.

Reports suggest there was a heated argument, an altercation or huge row involving Chairman Mel Morris and Nigel Pearson. Due to the legalities of it all, fans may never find out what was really said or what happened during the meeting.

Personally, I have often found Pearson seemed obnoxious, unfriendly and a bit too sure of himself. Fans often ignore this if results go the way of the team they support, but this has not been the case in this instance. Strangely, fan favourite Idiakez was also been suspended and has since left the club, so you can speculate that he may have been at the same meeting.

Assistant Manager and a man with a positive personality, Chris Powell, will be in charge this Saturday away to Reading. He led Derby to only their second league win of the season against Cardiff on Tuesday.

With Bryson and Olsson joining long term absentees Shackell, Forsyth and Thorne out injured, it is like Derby will choose their starting eleven from the same squad that won two nil away at Cardiff.

Johnson is likely to play in a holding role, allowing Hughes and Butterfield to get forward and support Vydra. Ince and Anya will sometimes stay out wide but also be encouraged to come into free roles in the middle, just as Ince did when he score the opener on Tuesday. Max Lowe should continue at left back as Olsson, who has had a disappointing season so far, is struggling to be fit.

Russell, Weimann and the fit again Wilson will be looking to make an impact from the bench in what will be a tough away fixture, one that will have both Vydra and Blackman visiting a former club.

The Royals have made a good start to the season under former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam, but were battered away to Brentford in midweek. They sit on equal points just outside the play offs after fantastic wins away to Barnsley, Brighton and at home to Huddersfield

McClearly is back from suspension and should go straight back into the side as he provides attacking threat. Fellow midfielder Danny Williams could also return after an ankle knock. Swift and McCleary have provided goals and Kermogant trickery, energy and bite up front while Quinn has also been playing well in midfield.

Match Prediction:

Before losing on Tuesday Reading were unbeaten in six games and were one of the in-form sides in the Championship. They are unbeaten at home so Derby are likely to be up against it, however, Derby have not lost in Reading in five games.

It is amazing how one win can turn a team’s mind set, belief and confidence around. Hopefully this will be the case with the Derby squad following their impressive performance in Cardiff.

Derby to win 2-1 with Vydra and Butterfield to score.