The Rams will be hoping to continue their pre-break form as Fergusons Lilywhites come to Pride Park in need of points.

Pride Park Stadium, Derby

 

 

P 54 W 29 D 10 L 15 F 94 A 64 

Last game at Pride Park:

16/04/10: Derby County 5 - 3 Preston   o.g. Hulse (2), Commons, Barker

Recent Form:

Preston North End   20/24  P 10 W 3 D 1 L 6 F 11 A 14

Leading scorers: Parkin (5), Treacy (3lg cp)

Derby:     14/24  P 10 W 3 D 4 L 3 F 14 A 20

Leading scorers:  Commons (5)

The Rams

Have we turned the corner? The last few games have been a breath of fresh air for Rams fans. Starved of decent football for a few years, it's good to be coming out of Pride Park smiling for a change.

Apart from the Blunts game, the performances of the team have been good though it was clear that the team was missing a vital focal point up front.

Some (including me) thought that vital piece was Rob Hulse but clearly seeing as he's yet to grace even the bench at QPR, his injury was real and he wouldn’t have been playing even if he was here.

So Clough has bought in Shefki Kuqi and that has made all the difference. His energy and work rate has bought the other players into play. None more so than Kris Commons.

Commons is our leading scorer and it looks as if we're finally getting the best out of him. Okay he's done some good stuff before (against Forest and Manchester United) but it's the week in week out we need.

He's in contract negotiations with the club now - and he's unsure of his future. Speaking to the BBC he said;

"The decision is not in my hands. I'm sure I will be the last to know but it needs sorting as soon as possible."

"Tom Glick, manager Nigel Clough and the backroom staff have decisions to make."

Tom Glick welcomed the contract negotiations but warned;

"Let me be clear, we are interested in extending Kris's contract but we are not doing it in the public domain."

Hopefully that doesn't mean we can't afford to keep Commons though Glick did say in the Derby Evening Telegraph that we were still over-budget on wages.

It would be sobering to have to lose a good player for financial reasons. Let’s hope it doesn't come to that.

No Stephen Bywater and Paul Green picked up a hamstring strain playing for the Republic of Ireland against Slovakia and had to be substituted; he may not be risked against Preston.

Better news is that Russell Anderson seems to be fully recovered and had a successful return through the reserves in midweek. Manager Clough may think it is too early to put him straight back into first team action.

Full back Gareth Roberts may also return from injury but loan striker Ryan Noble has been ruled out with a back injury.

The need for goalkeeping cover for Stephen Bywater, who will be out for a at least four weeks saw Blackburn Rovers' England U21's keeper Frank Fielding joining the Rams for a month. Reserve Saul Deeney was called away to Ireland to tend to a family illness, and so young Ross Atkins has been recalled from a loan spell at Tamworth.

Probable Team:

Fielding

Brayford, Anderson, Barker, Moxey

Bailey, Savage

Bueno, Cywka, Commons

Kuqi

Subs - Deeney, O'Brien, Roberts, Moore, Pringle, tba

No.  Position  Player 

1 Keeper   Stephen Bywater 

2 Defender  John Brayford 

3 Defender  Gareth Roberts  LFT

4 Midfield  Paul Green 

5 Defender  Shaun Barker (vice-captain) 

6 Defender  Dean Leacock 

7 Striker  Steve Davies  Injured

8 Midfield  Robbie Savage (captain) 

9 Striker  Shefki Kuqi (on loan from Swansea City) 

10 Midfield  Kris Commons 

11 Midfield  Stephen Pearson 

12 Striker  Chris Porter  Injured

13 Keeper   Saul Deeney 

14 Defender  Russell Anderson Injured

15 Midfield  David Martin 

16 Midfield  James Bailey 

17 Defender  Jake Buxton 

18 Midfield  Ben Pringle 

19 Striker  Tomasz Cywka 

20 Defender  Miles Addison  Injured

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) 

32 Keeper   James Severn 

35 Midfield  Jeff Hendrick 

36 Defender  Kallum Keane 

37 Midfield  Ryan Connolly 

38 Midfield  Medi Abalimba 

39 Defender  Mitchell Hanson

-- Striker Ryan Noble (on loan from Sunderland)

-- Striker Luke Moore (on loan from WBA)

-- Keeper    Frank Fielding (on loan from Blackburn Rovers)

Preston North End

Unbeaten in three, Darren Ferguson’s men are slowly starting to turn things around. They had a poor start to the season but there seems to be a never say die attitude about Preston - Can you imagine many other teams that would come back and win 6-4 at Leeds after being 4-1 down?

Ferguson has several players returning from injury and is confident the Lilywhites can climb the table. Speaking to the Lancashire evening post he said;

“It was important to have a good week of results leading up to the international break.

“We’ve used the break well and we will come back fresher for it.

“Matty and Josh will be back with us, they’ll give us freshness.

“Most of the other lads have had a bit of a rest and also done some hard work in training.

“In this league, if you’ve got the majority of your players fit then it gives you a better chance of being competitive.

“The Championship is so unpredictable, you’re always looking for something just to give you the extra edge.

“Getting a couple of players back from injury can make a big difference."

 Current PNE Squad

 No.  Position  Player

1  Keeper Andrew Lonergan

2  Defender Craig Morgan

3  Defender Callum Davidson (captain)

4  Defender Sean St Ledger

5  Defender Wayne Brown

6  Midfield Matty James (on loan from Man Utd)

7  Midfield Paul Coutts

8  Striker Paul Hayes

9  Striker Chris Brown

10  Midfield Barry Nicholson

11  Midfield Keith Treacy

12  Defender David Gray

14  Midfield Danny Mayor

15  Midfield Adam Barton

16  Striker Iain Hume (on loan from Barnsley)

17  Midfield Paul Parr

18  Striker Joshua King (on loan from Man Utd)

19  Defender Billy Jones

20  Midfield Darel Russell

22  Keeper Wayne Henderson

25  Keeper Andreas Arestidou

26  Striker Jon Parkin

30  Striker Jamie Douglas

31  Defender Dominic Collins

32  Defender Sam Hart

34  Midfield Richard Chaplow

36  Midfield Neil Dougan

37  Defender Conor McLaughlin

39  Midfield George Miller

40  Defender Neal Trotman

42  Defender Bailey Wright

43  Midfield Doyle Middleton

What the bookies think:

Derby are favourites at 19/20 on while the Lilywhites are at 14/5. The draw is 12/5. Kris Commons & Luke Moore are at 5/1 while Shefki Kuqi is at 11/2.

For Preston John Parkin is at 7/1

A Kris Commons Hat-trick would get you  33/1 while a 6-4 scoreline would get you 500/1 either way.

Information for travelling fans:

Driving:

It’s M6 South 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 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 prediction

Losing Bywater and Green is a blow - particularly Green - but we do have adequate replacements. Will the ball still be rolling after the International break?

It's hard to say but the fans and Nigel Clough are a lot happier these days. That lack of nervousness helps the players along and if we get behind the team we can make a difference.

Derby 2-1 Preston

Photo: Action Images

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