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G.M's Match Preview: Rams Must Consolidate & Beat Near Bottom Bolton
Saturday, 27th Sep 2014 09:18 by George Martin

After a superb result and performance against Reading, Derby will be beaming with confidence as they travel to Bolton today.

The main dilemma will be for the coaching team, who have a number of selection dilemmas to consider when picking today's start XI.

Jordan Ibe, Jamie Ward and Mascarell will be hoping for a starting place after recent good performances. With it being an away game, Derby may opt for Eustace who has the experience, communication and leadership skills, although Mascarell performed very well against Reading on Tuesday night.

The pace, control, skill and intelligence from Ibe on the wing means he surely has to start. Very rarely do Derby fans actually get out of their seat for an individual player but on Tuesday night, many fans were out of their seat on a number of occasions. He has to start.

Chris Martin will start up front after Best had a below average performance on Tuesday night. He struggled to hold the ball up, played like an individual and failed to bring the midfielders into play.

Although not overly comfortable on the ball, Shotton defended well in the centre left position and headed the ball well against Reading. He did far better than Whitbread against Cardiff, therefore this would suggest he will start ahead of Whitbread and may perhaps be a long term answer to Derby’s occasional defensive frailties.

Christie will continue at right back and Hughes should recover from a terrible tackle when breaking away against Reading. Grant will come back into goal despite Roos' superb one on one save and faultless display against Reading. If things are not going right, Derby can turn to Russell, Dawkins and Best from the bench, who will add skill, pace and power in the final third.

In contrast, Bolton's poor form since their relegation from the premier league is a mystery. They have the players, manager and structure to be much higher on the table, but for whatever reason they seem rooted to the bottom half of the table.

They have experienced and quality players in Mills, Beckford, Pratley, Danns and Spearing, all well known names but their inconsistency seems to be more of a hindrance than a help to the team.

Bolton played reasonably well against Chelsea in mid week, but lost 2-1. They also lost 1-0 in their last league outing against Wolves. However in their last home game they beat Rotherham 3-2.

If Derby wants to consolidate a top 6 place and have ambitions to gain automatic promotion they have to beat teams in the bottom 6. Bolton are 4th from bottom, having only won one league game all season.

Hopefully Derby's attacking prowess will be too much for Bolton and their decision making, creativity and end product in the final third will end in a positive outcome for The Rams.

Taking the confidence from a clean sheet midweek and the new partnership of Shotton and Keogh, will be enough for three points and push Derby up the table.

Derby to win.

COYR!!


League Form / Match Stats:

Bolton - 21st (L, L, D, W, L): Wanderers have only won once this season, which came against Rotherham earlier this month. Their performance in the Cup against Chelsea was admirable but need to find consistency in the League.

Bolton are one of The Rams bogey teams of recent years — not having been beaten in their last 6 matches, winning 2 and drawing 4.

At home, Bolton have only been beaten once this season with 1 victory, 3 draws and 1 loss from their 5 matches.


Derby - 9th (W, D, D, W, D): Blew Cardiff off the park last weekend but somehow had to fight back from 0-2 down to salvage a 2-2 draw. Dismantled Reading midweek to win 2-0 in the Cup. Hopefully we are in for more of the latter than the former.

Derby has not won at the Macron stadium since 2002 when both teams resided in the Premier League.

The Rams have only been defeated once in 11 matches over all competitions this season.


Last Time They Met: March 2014

Derby 0 vs. 0 Bolton — Despite dominating for most of the match The Rams were unable to put the ball in the net and things ended in a goalless draw.


Classic Clash Video: October 1993

Bolton 0 vs. 2 Derby

Burnden Park


Coach / Player Previews:


COYR!!



Photo: Action Images



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