After an impressive performance on the road the Rams return to Pride Park hoping to repeat the heroics of their last home game. A win will mean safety and for that reason alone Derby will be desperate to get the points.

Derby County vs. Burnley

Saturday 23rd April 2011

Pride Park - Derbyshire

P 46 W 28 D 9 L 9 F 92 A 46

Last game at Pride Park

Saturday 4th April 2009: Derby 1 - 1 Burnley; Connolly

Current Form

Burnley  9/24 P 42 W 17 D 12 L 13 F 59 A 56

Leading scorers:     Rodriguez (13lg1cp)

Derby     19/24  Derby P 42 W 13 D 10 L 19 F 53 A 60

Leading scorers:  Bueno, Cywka, Davies, Moore, Savage (4)

The Rams

3 games without defeat and the finishing line in sight - Can the Rams secure the final few points that guarantee safety?

It's no coincidence that the teams return to form has coincided with the improved performances of Stephen Pearson. Pearson is one of those players that annoy many of the Pride Park faithful.

He has pace, technical ability and is capable of a lot more than we've seen. Yet all too often his passing his wayward, his shooting ability non existent and his tackling half hearted at best.

The reason he annoys fans is he clearly has these abilities - so why doesn't he have the footballers confidence (some would say arrogance) to use them?

Some would lay the blame at the door of Nigel Clough and point out that Pearson has been used as a winger when clearly he isn't one. Others would point out that Pearson was displaying these traits before Clough left the Pirelli.

I think that like Kris Commons, Pearson is a player that thrives in a team full of confidence and doing well. With a big strong midfielder winning the ball and with talented players to lay the ball off to, he would be an asset. In a team that has Robbie Savage has the main spring for midfield, he's a luxury.

Possible team

Jones

Brayford Barker Ayala Roberts

B.Davies Savage Bailey Pearson

S.Davies Ward

SUBS: Severn, Bueno, Robinson, Addison, Porter,  Pringle, Doyle

Current Rams Squad

No.    Position    Player

2    Defender    John Brayford

3    Defender    Gareth Roberts

4    Midfield    Paul Green

5    Defender    Shaun Barker (vice-captain)

6    Defender    Dean Leacock

7    Striker        Steve Davies

8    Midfield    Robbie Savage (club captain)

10    Striker        Jamie Ward (on loan from Sheffield United)

11    Midfield    Stephen Pearson

12    Striker        Chris Porter

13    Keeper        Saul Deeney

14    Defender    Russell Anderson

16    Midfield    James Bailey

17    Defender    Jake Buxton

18    Midfield    Ben Pringle

19    Striker        Tomasz Cywka

20    Defender    Miles Addison

21    Defender    Daniel Ayala (on loan from Liverpool)

23    Striker        Conor Doyle

24    Midfield    Arnaud Mendy

25    Defender    Mark O'Brien

26    Striker        Callum Ball

27    Striker        Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid)

28    Midfield    Ben Davies

29    Midfield    Jeff Hendrick

34    Keeper        Brad Jones

Burnley

A midweek win over Middlesbrough following the win over Swansea at the weekend has re-ignited Burnley's play off hopes.

Six games without a win looked like the end of the Clarets dreams of a swift return to the Premier League. Burnley, Hull and Forest all sit on 63 points, 2 shy of faltering Leeds.

Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire before the Middlesbrough game, defender Andre Bikey:

"It was really important winning on Saturday because it's been a while since our last victory, It's made us more confident and we realise we're still involved."

He went on;

"At Burnley we look like outsiders at the moment but if we beat Middlesbrough on Tuesday we'll put Leeds under a lot of pressure. I think if we can get at least four wins in our last five games we'll be there or thereabouts."

The pressure is now clearly on Leeds and nobody can afford to slip up.

Clarets boss Eddie Howe has no reported injury concerns at the time of writing. Lee Grant should be on the bench while Tyrone Mears should start.

Current Clarets Squad

No.        Position    Player

1        Keeper        Lee Grant

2        Midfield    Graham Alexander (captain)

3        Defender    Danny Fox

4        Defender    Michael Duff

5        Defender    Clarke Carlisle (vice-captain)

6        Midfield    Jack Cork (On loan from Chelsea)

8        Midfield    Dean Marney

9        Striker        Chris Iwelumo

10        Striker        Martin Paterson

11        Midfield    Wade Elliott

12        Keeper        Brian Jensen

14        Defender    Tyrone Mears

15        Defender    David Edgar

16        Midfield    Chris McCann

19        Striker        Jay Rodriguez

20        Midfield    Marvin Bartley

21        Defender    André Bikey

22        Midfield    Ross Wallace

23        Striker        Charlie Austin

24        Defender    Brian Easton

25        Defender    Shane Duffy (On loan from Everton)

26        Striker        Nathan Delfouneso (On loan from Aston Villa)

30        Striker        Steven Thompson

33        Midfield    Chris Eagles

What the bookies think

The Rams are favourites at 8/5 while Burnley is at 13/8. The draw is 12/5.

Alberto Bueno and Steve Davies are both at 6/1 while our captain and joint leading scorer is at 14/1. Silly odds seeing as he takes penalties.

Jay Rodriguez and Nathan Delfouneso are also at 6/1 for the visitors. Tyrone Mears is at 20/1.

Information for travelling fans

Driving

Burnley is one of those places that multiple routes take the same amount of time to get to. The best route according to my sat nav is M60/M62/M1 South to J16 for Derby. Take the A52 Brian Clough Way to Derby. Take the A6 turn-off for Derby and the ground and away parking are signposted. About 100 miles and a 2.5 hours drive.

Parking

Away fans can 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 at the Fireplace showroom just at the turn off the A52 for Pride Park.

Don’t be in a rush to leave however as it takes an age to get out of there. 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 very good 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 prediction

Much depends on Burnley's nerves and crucially if Robbie Savage can get among them and wind them up.

The crowd informing them of other scores might help too.

Come on Leeds!

A draw I reckon.

Rams 2-2 Burnley

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls