G.M's Match Preview: Rams Must Replicate Home Form On The Road
Tuesday, 31st Jan 2017 12:36 by George Martin

After pushing Premier League champions Leicester City all the way in the FA Cup, Derby are back in league action tonight when the travel to Portman Road to play Ipswich Town.

Anya and Blackman are back in the squad after recovering from their recent injuries but Hughes is out for at least a week after suffering a slight hamstring strain.

Butterfield is most likely to come for Hughes, although another option is for De Sart to play the CDM role and Johnson be pushed further forward.

Anya could come in on the left for Russell but Russell's defensive qualities may give him the nod, especially with the game being away from home. Bent is likely to continue up front on his own as Nugent is still out with a knee injury.

Ipswich have no new injury problems for the visit of The Rams. Loan signing Toumani Diagouraga will be assessed ahead of the game having played his first senior game for six months at Preston where the Tractor Boys drew 1-1.

Recent signing Kieffer Moore may make first start having impressed when he came on in the same game. Bishop, Rowe and Tommy Smith are also on the sidelines and struggling to be fit. Ex Newcastle defender Steven Taylor has signed on a short term deal, but the paper work has yet to go through, so will not be involved.

Derby needs to keep a close eye on Lawerence who has scored a couple of good goals recently. In Sears, Pitman and McGoldrick, Ipswich have plenty of options and experience in attack.

Match Prediction:

Away from home Derby seem to be less fluent, cohesive and attacking, compared to when playing at Pride Park. Ipswich will be tough to break down as Mick McCarthy teams are annoying and usually boringly well organised and hard working.

The home side beat the Rams towards the start of the season under ex manager Nigel Pearson. Derby will be looking to make amends and keep the pressure on those teams currently in the top six places.

A 1-1 draw with Bent to score.