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G.M's MatchDay Preview: Rams Must Attack & Exploit Blackpool At Back
Tuesday, 21st Oct 2014 12:50 by George Martin

Derby travel to Bloomfield Road after a good result but 'strange' performance against Reading on Saturday.

Reading could have taken the lead in a bright, opening 15 minutes for them. They could have also equalised and should certainly have made it 2-1 when Progrebnyak missed an open goal with a quarter of the game remaining.

However, it was Derby who put the better moves together and were more clinical in front of goal, in what turned out to be comfortable victory after the third goal went in.

Those three points that put Derby 2nd in the league have come at a cost. Both Ward (thigh strain) and Grant (suspected fracture) are out for a minimum of 6 weeks.

England U21 Jack Butland has been swiftly brought in on loan from Stoke to cover Grant and Russell should start for Ward. This will mean Calero or Bennett will be given a spot on the bench.

Losing a goalkeeper at any point is difficult as it such a specialised position, but at least Derby have acted quickly and promptly, getting a player in with a vast amount of Championship experience and something to prove.

Keogh and Bryson should recover from concussion and illness respectively, to form a strong spine of the team. Shotton did very well when coming on for Keogh and may start ahead of Whitbread due to his slightly better speed and strength. Whitbread won every header after a shaky first half against Reading, so it's a good problem to have at the centre of defence.

Martin will be buzzing from Saturday's brace, when he was slightly unlucky not to get a hat-trick in his man of the match performance. Hughes grew into the game on and his first touch, vision, composure and shielding abilities are a joy to watch.

Blackpool have struggled for form all season and remains rooted at the bottom after they seemed to struggle to even get players in during the pre season. They have only won 1 match all season and sit on six points in total with a quarter of the season gone. That win came at home to Cardiff, but they have lost 4, won 1 and drawn 1 in their 6 home games.

The home side hopes to welcome back Joan Oriol and Jose Miguel Cubero after they recently suffered ankle injuries. Sergei Zenjov could also return having returned from international duty, while midfielder Andrea Orlandi could possibly be involved as Blackpool look to get their season back on track.

Ishmael Miller will look to cause Derby problems as he did last season whilst playing for Yeovil. Delfouneso will also be a danger while Perkins will look to try and string things together in midfield. Blackpool's main problems seem to be conceding goals and Derby need to exploit this, especially with the pace and skill of Ibe and Russell out wide.

Derby needs to nullify any chance of a bright start from the home team and try and start better than they did against Reading. Losing Grant in particular and Ward for the next 6 weeks will be a huge test, but when teams are going for promotion, the teams that deal with major set backs the best will end up on top.

Scoring first will settle any nerves surrounding the goalkeeper situation for Derby and if things are not going to plan - Hendrick, Mascarell and Best can be injected to cause problems from the bench.

Hopefully Derby's attacking flair will be too much for Blackpool and they will be able to expose obvious weaknesses in defence.

If form is anything to go by Derby should secure their fourth away win in a row and remain in the top two.

If Florist do us a favour against Watford - Derby could be top by 9:50 on Tuesday evening!

Let's all hope so!


League Form / Match Stats:

Blackpool - 24th (D, L, D, W, L):

Blackpool has started the season badly and home games have offered no respite, having only won 1, drawn 2 and lost 4 from their 6 matches at Bloomfield Road.

Derby has only lost once this season and on the other side of the coin - Blackpool have only won once.

Derby — 2nd (D,W,W,D,W):

The Rams have won 5 of their last 6 meetings against Blackpool.

Derby arrives in Blackpool red hot on the road having won their last 3 trips over Blackburn, Bolton and Reading.


Last Time They Met:

Blackpool 1 — 3 Derby

Tuesday 8th April 2014


Classic Clash Video:

Blackpool 2 — 3 Derby

8th March 1969


Coach / Player Previews:

Steve McClaren previews the trip to Blackpool.

Jack Butland on joining The Rams as cover for the injured Lee Grant.

Cyrus Christie speaks to the media before he heads to the seaside.

COYR!!



Photo: Action Images



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