G.M's MatchDay Preview: Can iDerby iCounty Sink Seasiders At The iPro?
Saturday, 7th Dec 2013 04:18 by George Martin

Despite Derby not moving the ball quick enough and their control sometimes letting them down on Wednesday, we managed to huff and puff our way to victory against quite a well organised Boro team.

I was really, really pleased for the victory. Not just because it kept our winning streak going and moved us up into 4th (it still seems weird saying that!), but because it will also be remembered as the last game at the stadium known as Pride Park.

Although there were bad times in the Premier League and poor matches under Brown and Clough, I look back fondly at Pride Park with many cherished memories. Especially under Smith, Burley and Davies.

We welcome 6th placed Blackpool to the iPro Stadium in front of the Sky Sports cameras and what will actually happen is anyone's guess!

Derby is likely to pick from an unchanged squad, but could we be in store for another jaded performance. Three games in 6 days is quite a bit to ask both physically and mentally. Is it possibly worth starting with Keane, Hendrick and Russell for Buxton, Eustace and Ward. Not because they have played badly, just purely to freshen things up and bring back the spark that was missing the other night.

It would be harsh to drop anyone though. It is difficult to get into play off contention and some would argue it's even harder to stay there.

As most people will be aware, Blackpool had three (3) players sent off in injury time in their defeat on Tuesday evening. Ricardo Fuller, Captain Gary MacKenzie and Kirk Broadfoot were sent off in the loss to Yeovil and will be suspended.

However, Gilks is good in goal, Ince a threat going forward from midfield and up front they have the experienced pair of Dobbie and Chopra, not to mention ex Ram Steven Davies who is likely to start.

I truly believe this game could go either way. Hopefully we will be playing them at a good time and they will struggle with the suspensions. But sometimes when team feel they are up against it, like Blackpool will, they dig in and find that extra edge.

Blackpool has had some indifferent results of late and has gradually slipped out of the automatic places after their very good start to the season. Paul Ince seems to have done a good job and turned them into serious play off contenders.

If it is not going right on the pitch for Derby, at least we now have a coaching team that is not so stubborn, single minded and they do have a plan b. That was proved the other night when bringing on Hendrick at half-time and Sammon in the last 10 minutes when I honestly expected us to settle for a draw. Again, somehow, it worked!

Hopefully the presence of GOD....er ....I mean Igor, the sky sports cameras and bumper crowd will give the players that extra lift and spark that was missing on Wednesday.

Good luck boys. Hopefully you won't need it and movement, passing and decision making in the final third will come to fruition once again.

Goodbye Pride Park - hello iPro. We all have many fond memories that we will cherish forever.

PS: How funny is the story about Billy literally losing the plot with a photographer at Millwall the other night and sending sub Greening to stand behind the guy to watch what he was doing on his laptop.

Absolutely brilliant.

Current Form — Last 5 League Matches:

Derby (4th): L, W, W, W, W

Blackpool (6th): W, L, D, W, L

The Stats That Matter:

The Rams are proven quick starters this season with 20 of their goal tally coming in the first 45 minutes.

Steve McClaren has collected 19 of a possible 24 since taking over at Derby. Go Macca!

The Rams have the highest goals ‘for’ in the Championship as well as the best conversion rate per shots on goal sitting at 17.7%.

The Rams will be looking to make it 5 in a row after already holding the longest winning run currently in the Championship. Burnley are the only team to have a longer run so far with 7 and QPR managed 4.

Craig Bryson is really delivering on his intention of scoring more goals this season having already bagged 7. He has proved just as important when it comes to assists with an impressive 7 so far.