 Saturday, 6th Nov 2010 05:45 by Mick McDermott At home it has been goals, goals and more goals for the rampant Rams. Will the trend continue against the newly relegated Pompey.
Derby County vs. PortsmouthSaturday 6th November 2010 17:20 Pride Park - Derbyshire Derby v Portsmouth - Historical P 43 W 26 D 7 L 10 F 84 A 44 Last game at Pride Park. 11/08/07 Derby County 2 - 2 Portsmouth Oakley, Todd Recent Form Portsmouth 10/24 P 14 W 6 D 3 L 5 F 21 A 19 Leading scorers: Lawrence (5lg 1cp) Derby 7/24 P 14 W 6 D 3 L 5 F 28 A 15 Leading scorers: Commons (7)
The Rams: Nigel Clough was on Radio Derby saying how he thought the game against Pompey would be among the most difficult yet. He's right of course but hopefully Pompey are more nervous of the long trip up the M1 to Pride Park. Injuries are starting to be a problem for Clough again and Alberto Bueno & Luke Moore are both doubtful. With Anderson & Buxton sidelined we're also short of centre half cover and Clough is considering having Miles Addison on the bench. Miles still faces six weeks out once the screws in his foot are removed so it's debatable how sensible it is to risk him. With both Leacock & Barker one card away from a suspension however it's all hands to the pumps. Probable Team: Fielding Brayford, Leacock , Barker, Moxey Bailey, Savage Green, Cywka, Commons Kuqi Subs - Deeney, O’Brien, Roberts, Pringle, Pearson, Addison
Current Squad No. Position Player 1 Keeper Stephen Bywater 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 9 Striker Shefki Kuqi (on loan from Swansea City) 10 Midfield Kris Commons 11 Midfield Stephen Pearson 12 Striker Chris Porter 13 Keeper Saul Deeney 14 Defender Russell Anderson 15 Midfield David Martin 16 Midfield James Bailey 17 Defender Jake Buxton 18 Midfield Ben Pringle 19 Striker Tomasz Cywka 20 Defender Miles Addison 21 Defender Dean Moxey 23 Striker Conor Doyle 25 Defender Mark O'Brien 26 Striker Callum Ball 27 Striker Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid) 28 Striker Luke Moore (on loan from West Bromwich Albion) 30 Keeper Ross Atkins 34 Keeper Frank Fielding (on loan from Blackburn Rovers) 35 Midfield Jeff Hendrick 36 Defender Kallum Keane 37 Midfield Ryan Connolly 38 Midfield Medi Abalimba 39 Defender Mitchell Hanson Pompey From relegation to near winding up in the high court, coupled with a poor start to the season. Pompey have been through the blender. With 6 of the last seven games now won and administration behind them, Pompey are looking as if they will challenge for promotion back to the Premier league this year. Some might say that it's unfair they managed to keep most of their top class players but whatever the fairness of it they have and they are likely to be tough opposition. Manager Steve Cotterill is worried that teams will sit back and defend against his attacking team: "We haven't come across teams just sitting back and defending against us yet. Until we do, we haven't got to do anything differently". Last week against Forest, Cotterill switched David Nugent and John Utaka to neutralise the threat from the Trees and it worked. "You always have to do something within a game and there are things that you have to tweak along the way." Clearly a manager who doesn't believe in sticking to a plan. Hopefully Clough has learned from the Millwall & Sheffield United games and has a plan B of his own. Current Squad: No. Position Player 1 Keeper Jamie Ashdown 2 Defender Greg Halford (on loan from Wolves) 3 Defender Carl Dickinson (on loan from Stoke City) 4 Defender Aaron Mokoena (captain) 6 Defender Hermann Hreiðarsson 7 Midfield Liam Lawrence (on loan from Stoke City*) 8 Midfield Hayden Mullins 9 Striker Danny Webber 10 Striker David Nugent 11 Midfield Michael Brown 17 Striker John Utaka 18 Striker Dave Kitson 20 Defender Joel Ward 22 Midfield Richard Hughes 24 Striker Nadir Ciftci 25 Defender Ibrahima Sonko (on loan from Stoke City) 27 Striker Nwankwo Kanu 33 Defender Ricardo Rocha 37 Keeper Darryl Flahavan 38 Defender Ellis Martin 39 Midfield Peter Gregory
What the bookies think Derby is favourites at 11/8 while Pompey is at 21/10. The draw is also at 21/10. Kris Commons is at 5/1 while Shefki Kuqi & Luke Moore are at 6/1. For Pompey Dave's Nugent & Kitson are at 7/1 Information for travelling fans Driving It’s a long way from Portsmouth to Derby. Around the M25 and M1 North to J16 for Derby. Take the A500/A50 to Derby. Take the A6 turn-off for Derby and the ground and away parking are signposted. About 120 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 I said last time that how your react to defeat is every bit as important as how you react to victory. We reacted and how against Watford. Some of the Watford fans leaving the ground were disgruntled by the poor performance of their own team and put the nature of the defeat down to that. I hope all fans that come to Derby leave thinking that and maybe it will be a while before other people catch on to what is happening at Derby. I think this game could be tough but I expect us to prevail or at least draw. Derby 2-2 Portsmouth
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