With the finishing line in sight - Can we finish the season on a high?

The Tractor Boys:

Current League Position: 14/24

Leading scorer: Jonathan Walters 7lg

Manager: Roy Keane

Kit Home: blue shirt/white shorts

Kit Away: Red shirts, black Trim/Red shorts

Last game: Ipswich 2 - 1 Reading

Quotes from the manager:

Roy Keane speaking To BBC Radio Suffolk after the Reading match:
 
"I think it was a good solid performance but we could have killed it off when it was 2-0."

"We made hard work of it but we'll take the 2-1 victory."

"You can see why Reading are on such a good run, they play with good freedom and a lot of confidence." "

Current Ipswich Squad:
 
No. Position. Player.

1 Keeper Richard Wright
2 Defence David Wright
3 Defence Damien Delaney
4 Defence Gareth McAuley
6 Midfield Grant Leadbitter
7 Midfield Owen Garvan
8 Midfield Lee Martin
9 Striker Pablo Couñago
10 Midfield David Norris
12 Midfield Jaime Peters
13 Midfield Luciano Civelli
17 Midfield Jack Colback (on loan from Sunderland)
19 Striker Jon Walters (captain)
20 Striker David Healy (on loan from Sunderland)
21 Striker Daryl Murphy (on loan from Sunderland)
22 Defence Liam Rosenior (on loan from Reading)
23 Midfield Carlos Edwards
25 Midfield Alan Quinn
26 Keeper Brian Murphy
28 Keeper Arran Lee-Barrett
30 Defence Shane O'Connor
31 Midfield Devann Yao
32 Keeper Ian McLoughlin
34 Defence Jack Ainsley
35 Defence Tommy Smith
37 Midfield Reggie Lambe
39 Defence Troy Brown
40 Striker Connor Wickham
44 Striker Ronan Murray
46 Midfield Luke Hyam
39 Midfeld Connor Grogan
40 Striker Callum Wilson

The Rams:
 

Quotes from the manager:

Nigel Clough speaking to BBC Derby after the Coventry game:

"We deserved it today. The clean sheets and the resilience we are showing gives us a platform to work on".

"Every effort we have got goes into Monday, if we can get that three points then we should be safe."

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: 6/5
Draw: 11/5
Away win: 9/5
 
Rather bizzarly, William Hill has Nathan Ellington and Jon Stead as the first two scorers in this game. Oh and Emmanual Villa at 6/1...!?!?

First Scorer: - Rob Hulse, Chris Porter, Jonathan Walters 7/1

Information for travelling fans:

Driving: It's 160 miles from Portman Rd. Best route is the A14 followed by the M1 North to J25. Take the A52 Brian Clough Way to Derby and the ground is on the left. Follow signs for parking.

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:

After a welcome away win it would be good to sew up Championship survivial with a good performance against RK Ipswich.

Then we have to start asking questions about next seasion. Are we going to improve the squad? Are we getting rid of the dead wood? Are we going to try and wing it with loans and lower league bargains?

Tom Glick has answered some of these questions and it's refreshing to have some honesty in the boardroom.

That said, you have to wonder how much longer fans will put up with mediocrity on the pitch? Derby fans are patient, but only for so long. Another season like this one will kill off most of the support and this season may have done for some fans.

All we ask is that the team on the pitch do the best they can and compete in every match they play.

Too many times this season they haven't.

Mick's Team:

Bywater, Hunt, Barker, Anderson, McEveley, Martin, Pearson, Green, Tonge, Sunu, Porter

Subs: Hulse, Martin, Moxey, Teale, Cywka, Buxton, Deeney

Mick's Prediction

Derby 2-1 Ipswich

Photo: Action Images

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