Volcanic ash notwithstanding, will we finally put the season to bed or will the Eagles soar?

Derby County v Crystal Place
Coca Cola Championship
Pride Park, Derby
Saturday 17th April 2010 - 3:00pm

The Eagles:

Current League Position: 21/24

Leading scorer: Darren Ambrose 14lg 5cp

Manager: Paul Hart

Kit Home: Red & Blue striped shirt/Blue shorts

Kit Away: White shirts, blue trim/White shorts

Last game: Palace 0-2 QPR

Quotes from the manager:

Paul Hart speaking after the game in which there had been a horrendous clash of heads between Palace front man Calvin Andrew and Rangers defender Damion Stewart:

"Maybe the start, with that horrendous clash of heads, did us more harm than it did Rangers."

"That was probably our worst performance since I got here. QPR played very well but it was a really off-day for us."

"It was a massive opportunity and we were poor."

Current Tykes Squad:

No. Position. Player.

1 Keeper Julián Speroni
2 Defender Nathaniel Clyne
3 Defender Clint Hill (vice-captain)
4 Midfield Shaun Derry (captain)
5 Defender Paddy McCarthy
7 Midfield Darren Ambrose
8 Midfield Neil Danns
9 Striker Stern John
10 Australia Midfield Nick Carle
14 Striker Sean Scannell
15 Defender Lee Hills
17 Defender Matthew Lawrence
18 Striker Calvin Andrew
19 Striker Alan Lee
20 Defender Danny Butterfield
21 Midfield Kieran Djilali
22 Defender Johannes Ertl
24 Defender Claude Davis
25 Striker Nathaniel Pinney
26 Midfield Kieron Cadogan
28 Midfield James Comley
30 Defender Michael Abnett
31 Midfield Hakeem Adelakun
33 Midfield Alassane N'Diaye
34 Defender Alex Wynter
35  Keeper Charlie Mann
36 Striker Wilfred Zaha
37 Defender Jack Holland

The Rams:

Quotes from the manager:

Nigel Clough speaking after the dour draw at Oakwell last Saturday:

"I am very pleased with the team's performance in the circumstances."

"I don't think our keeper had a shot to save and we could have scored three in five minutes."

"If we stay unbeaten for the rest of the season it's something we can take into the summer."

Current Rams Squad: 

No. Position. Player.

1 Keeper Stephen Bywater
3 Defender James McEveley
4 Midfield Paul Green
5 Defender Miles Addison (vice-captain)
6 Defender Dean Leacock
7 Midfield Lee Croft
8 Midfield Robbie Savage (captain)
9 Striker Rob Hulse
10 Midfield Kris Commons
11 Midfield Gary Teale
12 Striker Chris Porter
13 Keeper Saul Deeney
14 Defender Shaun Barker
16 Midfield Stephen Pearson
17 Defender Jake Buxton
18 Midfield Ben Pringle
19 Midfield Michael Tonge (on loan from Stoke City)
20 Striker Steve Davies
21 Defender Dean Moxey
22 Midfield Arnaud Mendy
23 Defender Mark O'Brien
24 Defender Nicky Hunt (on loan from Bolton Wanderers)
25 Midfield David Martin (on loan from Millwall)
27 Defender Russell Anderson
28 Defender Mitchell Hanson
29 Striker Greg Mills
30 Keeper David Martin (on loan from Liverpool)
31 Striker Tomasz Cywka (on loan from Wigan Athletic)
32 Striker Gilles Sunu (on loan from Arsenal)
33 Defender Mark Dudley
35 Striker Callum Ball
36 Midfield Ryan Connolly

What the Bookies think:

Home Win: 23/20

Draw: 11/5

Away win: 19/10

First Scorer: - Rob Hulse 5/1, Stern John, Alan Lee 13/2

Information for travelling fans:

Driving: South Norwood to Derby is about 142 miles. Take M25, M1 North to J25 then take the A52 Brian Clough Way to Derby. You will see the ground on your left as you arrive in Derby. Follow the signs for the parking or stay on the A52 as described below.

Parking: It used to be at the old Wilmorten College site however that is now a housing estate so away fans should park at Catalyst on London Rd opposite the Navigation pub. It's about 10-15 minutes from the ground.

Don't be tempted to park at Pride Park shopping centre unless
you fancy being clamped. You can also park for a £5 at the hospital further up London Rd near the hospital and the Railway station.

Another alternative is to pass the exit for Pride Park on Brian Clough Way and head for Pentagon Island. Take the first exit and turn left and after a few hundred yards you will come to The Cattle Market Car Park. It's about 10 minutes walk to the ground from here.

Drinking: There are a few pubs very close to the ground but if you come by train, the locale around the station is fairly inviting. The Crown and Cushion at the junction of London Rd always seems to be full of away supporters.

The Brunswick is a must for any real ale fans and the Alexandra next door is my personal favourite. Fans tend to mingle in these pubs and as long as you're not being aggressive, the atmosphere is good. The Waterfall opposite the station is okay as well.

If you are driving, the Navigation Pub on London Rd opposite the parking area is your best bet. Around the ground there's a Frankie & Bennie's, Harvester and the Pride Park but these tend to be very busy.

Mick's Preview:

We need to win this one to be safe mathematically. It would be bad luck indeed to be drawn into the relegation dog fight but there's usually one team left sweating on the final day.

Let’s hope it's not us.

Palace are more desperate for points than us following the ten point deduction. They need to be and have to be up for this - We can't assume our home form will win us this match. We have to be up for it as well.

The last home game was awful. Okay it wasn't helped by a god-awful referee but we showed little up front and were awful on the flanks and in midfield.

Last week we played a turgid game against an awful Barnsley ... Clearly we aren't going out to impress wavering season ticket holders.

The renewal deadline for the early bird is on Sunday. I'll be honest I haven't renewed yet. This has been an awful season on top of two previously awful seasons. Are there any green shoots that show next season will be better?

Cywka looks to be an interesting player and we've been linked with a Dutch defender - but barring a big investment in the playing staff most of the current players will still be here.

Tomorrow is a last chance for them to impress the waverers ... can they do it?

Mick's Team:

Bywater, Anderson, Barker, McEveley, Moxey, Green, Tonge, Teale, Savage, Cywka, Hulse

Subs: Deeney, Porter, Pringle, Sunu, Davies, Hunt, Buxton

Mick's Prediction:

Derby 2-1 Palace

Photo: Action Images

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