The Rams resume their season looking to improve on their most recent trip to Wales and their abysmal away form.  

Swansea City v Derby County
Coca Cola Championship
Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Friday 20th November 2009, 7:45 pm

Swansea City:

Current League Position: 9/24
Leading scorer: Dobie 3 (cup), Beattie 3 (league)
Manager: Paulo Sousa
Kit home: White shirt/Black trim, Black shorts
Kit away: Red shirt, White shorts
Last game: Swansea 3-2 Cardiff
 
Quotes from the manager:
 
From the official Swans site fooolwoing the victory over Cardiff.
 
"We sold out the Liberty Stadium for the south Wales derby against Cardiff,But it must not be a one off".
 
"The atmosphere against Cardiff was fantastic and when we needed our fans the most - when Cardiff came back to 2-2 - they were there for us".
 
"They spurred the players on when it mattered the most and made all of the difference between success and possible failure. Now we need the Jack Army to make the difference in every game".
 
"We need to fill the Liberty Stadium on Friday - and every game after that. That is my challenge to Swans fans everywhere".
 
Current Swans squad:
 
No. / Position / Player
1 Keeper Dorus de Vries
2 Defence Ashley Williams
3 Defence Marcos Painter
4 Midfield Kristian O'Leary
5 Defence Alan Tate (vice-captain)
6 Midfield Ferrie Bodde
7 Midfield Leon Britton
8 Midfield Darren Pratley
9 Strike Craig Beattie
10 Midfield Andrea Orlandi
11 Strike Cedric van der Gun
12 Midfield Nathan Dyer
14 Strike Stephen Dobbie
15 Midfield Jordi López
16 Defence Garry Monk (captain)
17 Keeper David Cornell
18 Strike Gorka Pintado
19 Strike Lee Trundle (on loan from Bristol City)
21 Defence Federico Bessone
22 Defence Àngel Rangel
23 Strike Guillem Bauzà
24 Midfield Joe Allen
25 Midfield Matthew Collins
26 Defence Albert Serrán
27 Midfield Mark Gower
28 Midfield Thomas Butler
29 Midfield Ashley Richards
30 Strike Chad Bond
32 Strike Ross Mitchell
34 Midfield Scott Evans
35 Defence Daniel Sheehan
37 Defence Radanfah Abu Bakr (on loan from Caledonia AIA)
39 Defence James Burgin
40 Strike Besian Idrizaj
 
Quotes from the manager:
 
From the BBC on Rob Hulse follwing the Coventry game:
 
"They were two very good goals. We haven't given him too much service in the last few weeks when he has played, but tonight we did and he looked dangerous all night - as did Paul Dickov, who I'm sure Rob was first to thank for his goals."
 
On the missed penalty:
 
"He changed his mind over the penalty as usually he goes the other way. It's not so bad when you miss them and they don't cost you points but he's disappointed because it would have been for a hat-trick."
 
Current Rams Squad:
 
1 Keeper Stephen Bywater
2 Defender Paul Connolly
3 Defender James McEveley
4 midfield Paul Green
5 Defender Miles Addison
6 Defender Dean Leacock
7 Midfield Lee Croft
8 Midfield Robbie Savage (captain)
9 Striker Rob Hulse
10 Striker Kris Commons
11 Midfield Gary Teale
12 Striker Chris Porter INJURED
13 Keeper Saul Deeney
14 Defender Shaun Barker
16 Midfield Stephen Pearson
17 Defender Jake Buxton
18 Midfield Ben Pringle
19 Striker Giles Barnes INJURED
20 Striker Steve Davies
21 Midfield Dean Moxey
22 Midfield Arnaud Mendy
23 Defender Mark O'Brien INJURED
24 Midfield Jake Livermore (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
25 Striker Paul Dickov (on loan from Leicester City)
26 Midfield Lee Hendrie DOUBTFUL
27 Defender Fredrik Stoor (on loan from Fulham)
31 Striker James Vaughan (on loan from Everton) INJURED
-- Midfield Reuben Zadkovich INJURED
29 Striker Greg Mills
32 Striker Bryan Hughes (on loan from Hull City)
 
What the Bookies think:
 
Home win: 4/6
Draw: 23/10
Away Win: 7/2
 
First scorer: Craig Beattie 5/1 Cedric Van Der Gun, Lee Trundle 11/2, Rob Hulse, Paul Dickov 8/1
 
Information for Travelling fans:
 
Driving: Unless you are on the Roadrider, driving seems to be the only option. It's 205 miles to Swansea - take the M1 to J23 and then take the A42/ M42 to the M5 south and join the M4 into Wales. Leave the M4 at Junction 45 and take the A4067 towards the City Centre (sign posted A4067 South). Stay on the A4067 for around two and half miles and you will reach the stadium on your left.
 
Parking: Parking around the stadium has become resident only. According to footballgroundguide.com, "Away supporters are encouraged to use the Park & Ride Facility located at Swansea Vale, which is signposted off the A4067, shortly after leaving the M4.

The cost of parking there including transport by bus to and from the stadium is £5 per car". as at Pride Park, parking in the retail park near the ground will leave you with a clamped car and a ticket although it's been suggested that there is parking to be had near the ground.
 
Drinking: The pubs around the ground have been instructed not to serve away supporters so the only options are Swansea town centre or in the ground itself. 

Likely Derby Line-up:

Bywater, Stoor, Barker, Leacock, Moxey, Pearson, Savage, Green, Teale, Dickov, Hulse. Subs: Deeney, Livermore, Hughes, Croft, Addison, McEveley, Connolly.

Mick's prediction:

With Nigel having employed the 4-5-1 system for most away games of the season with little succes, why not go for 4-4-2 and attack Swansea? Swansea are on a roll but have a history of conceding goals.

Important players have returned for Derby in both defence and midfield plus Dickov and Hulse are building a strong partnership up front. A change is as good as a holiday so now the players have had their holiday, let's have the change.  

Photo: Action Images

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