When I wrote my first preview way back in August for the Blackburn home game, never in my wildest dreams did I think that 8 months later, I would be writing a match preview for the Championship Play Off final at Wembley!

I certainly did not think it after we lost to the red dogs 1-0 away from home and Clough was sacked that evening. What a brave but brilliant decision that was. How ironic that Steve McClaren leaves QPR to take over at Derby and now faces them in a game supposedly worth £120 million.

Derby will play in their home kit against QPR and have no injury worries to deal with. McClaren will have some difficult selection decisions to make, with the main one being in midfield. I believe he will go with Hendrick, Bryson and Thorne, with Ward on the left and Russell on the right. Derby will be able to utilise Hughes passing ability in the second half, enabling Derby to keep possession in a crucial part of the game, the last 20 minutes.

Hendrick is in good form and his power and energy in the past few games has been immense. All three have shown and proved they are also a goal threat. This is where Derby's strength lies. There are six regular scorers and with Bamford and Dawkins on the bench, it adds pace and natural scoring ability if we need a goal in the second half.

QPR have Korean Yun Suk Young, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Niko Krancjar available. Yun was due to link up with the South Korea squad for a pre-World Cup training camp but has now been given permission to play at Wembley, although this has been denied according to some reports.

Fellow defender Assou-Ekotto is back with Rangers having recently returned to parent club Tottenham for treatment on a knee injury and midfielder Krancjar is also fit after a hamstring problem suffered against Wigan in the semi-final.

Buxton and Keogh will have to keep a very close eye on Charlie Austin. He has pace, power and natural scoring ability. Harry Redknapp will have to decide whether they will start with Bobby Zamora or not. I think he may start on the bench and look to make an impact second half. Hoilett is a threat out right, so Ward will have to make sure he comes back to help Forsyth consistently.

Some pressure has to be on the Londoners to get back to the Premier League. The money their players are on, the money they have spent on players surely adds pressure. Derby, on the other hand are just happy to be there and deserve to be there.

This is a hard game to call. Both teams deserve to be there. Will QPR have the experience with Dunne, Barton, Hill and Krancjar to overcome the Rams? Or will it be the energetic, free flowing passing of Derby who will come out on top?

Me, 38,000 others in the ground, and Rams watching around the world, are all hoping for the latter!

Come on Derby!

Come on the players!

One more final push to get over the line in what a has been an epic season!

Premier League anyone?!?!

COYR!!

Current Form — Last 5 Matches:

Derby (3rd): W, W, D, W, W

QPR (4th): W, D, W, D,W

The Stats That Matter:

Steve McClaren collected nearly 75% of the points available to him after joining The Rams as Head Coach, collecting 72 of a possible 100 League points.

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