After a flogging on the road, the injury ravaged Rams head to home to hopefully recapture some form against fellow strugglers in the Sky Blues.

Derby County vs. Coventry City

Saturday 9th April 2011

Pride Park - Derbyshire

P 37 W 22 D 8 L 7 F 60 A 352

Last game at Pride Park

Fri 6/11/09    Derby 2 - 1 Coventry; Hulse (2)

Current Form

Coventry:  17/24 P 39 W 12 D 9 L 18 F 43 A 57

Leading scorers: Jutkiewicz (7)

Derby:     19/24  Derby P 39 W 12 D 8 L 19 F 49 A 57

Leading scorers:  Bueno, Cywka, Moore (4)

The Rams

Rams manager Nigel Clough felt his team played "pretty well" in a first half which ended with them trailing to an early penalty.

Statistics say that the Rams been behind at half-time in only four of their 16 League games since the turn of the year.

If games finished after 45 minutes the Rams would be 4th.

On Second half performances we'd be 21st.

Is there a reason for this state of affairs? I believe it's down to the fitness of our players. Every manager we've had from since Jim Smith has at some point lambasted the fitness levels of the team they have inherited.

Most press releases talk about getting down to some "hard Work" on the training ground. Could it be that the fitness regime at DCFC isn't up to scratch or could it be that it's too hard?

We do seem to have a lot of injuries and maybe this is down to overtraining? One thing I have noticed is that Miles Addison has clearly been working out in a gym during his lay off and is now so bulky he's practically immobile.

Maybe Nigel needs to look at the training regime in the summer? I've often thought that the extensive warm up the Rams do may leave the players tired and unable to concentrate on the last few minutes of the game - hence all the late goals.

Mentally fit as well as physically fit might make all the difference.

Green is out for the rest of the season and some of next as well. Roberts will miss at least the next two games. Barker needs an op and Clough has said he will have it as soon as we're safe.

Possible team

Jones

Leacock Barker Ayala Brayford

Bueno Bailey Savage Pearson

S.Davies Ward

SUBS: Severn, Addison, Cywka, B.Davies, Porter, Anderson, Doyle

Rams Squad

No.    Position    Player

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 (club captain)

10    Striker        Jamie Ward (on loan from Sheffield United)

11    Midfield    Stephen Pearson

12    Striker        Chris Porter

13    Keeper        Saul Deeney

14    Defender    Russell Anderson

16    Midfield    James Bailey

17    Defender    Jake Buxton

18    Midfield    Ben Pringle

19    Striker        Tomasz Cywka

20    Defender    Miles Addison

21    Defender    Daniel Ayala (on loan from Liverpool)

23    Striker        Conor Doyle

24    Midfield    Arnaud Mendy

25    Defender    Mark O'Brien

26    Striker        Callum Ball

27    Striker        Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid)

28    Midfield    Ben Davies

29    Midfield    Jeff Hendrick

34    Keeper        Brad Jones

Coventry

"If we play like we did last Saturday we'll beat you easily".

Not a quote from the club or from the Coventry media, this was a quote form a work colleague who is a Coventry City fan.

This was following their 2-0 victory over Watford - their first in eight games. My colleague has cited the sacking of Aidy Boothroyd as the catalyst for the change in form;

"Boothroyd didn't have a clue about our best formation or what each players best position was, the man was clueless".

Harsh words but caretaker Manager Andy Thorn & Steve Harrison certainly seem to have got them playing. Play-Off hopefuls, Watford were outplayed all over the pitch.

Speaking to the Coventry Telegraph, Andy Thorn warned against allowing the Watford result to go to the player’s heads;

"The mood has been really good but we have a big game on Saturday and it is important we don't run away with ourselves. We have got to get back down to Earth now".

Thorn went on to promise the fans attacking football;

"Playing the way we do, you are always going to leave yourself open a little bit but that's how we're going to play".

Current Sky Blues Squad

No.      Position     Player

1     Keeper         Keiren Westwood

2      Defender     Richard Keogh

3      Defender     Stephen O'Halloran

4      Midfield     Sammy Clingan

5      Midfield     Lee Carsley (captain)

6      Defender     James McPake

7      Midfield     David Bell

9      Striker     Marlon King

10      Striker     Freddy Eastwood

11      Striker     Lukas Jutkiewicz

12      Midfield     Gary Deegan

14      Defender     Chris Hussey

15      Defender    Martin Cranie

16     Midfield     Isaac Osbourne

17      Midfield     Aron Gunnarsson

18     Midfield     Carl Baker

19      Striker     Gary McSheffrey

20      Defender     Ben Turner

21      Midfield     Michael McIndoe

22      Striker     Clive Platt

23      Keeper         Danny Ireland

24      Defender     Richard Wood

26      Defender     Jordan Clarke

29      Striker     Roy O'Donovan

30      Defender     Nathan Cameron

31      Striker     Shaun Jeffers

33      Keeper         Michael Quirke

What the bookies think

The Rams are 5/4 favourites for this with William Hill while the Sky Blues are at 11/5. The draw is at 23/10.

Steve Davies and Alberto Bueno are 11/2 favourites as first scorers while Marlon King is favourite for the visitors at 7/1.

Information for travelling fans

Driving

It’s a short hop from Coventry to Derby. Take the 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 50 miles.

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

Hard one to call again. I would have said this was our most winnable game of the remaining fixtures until I talked to Luke. Now I'm worried. Hopefully the Sky Blues performance against Watford was a one off and they will be back struggling this weekend.

Then there are the Rams. Okay they may have played well but without goals it's ultimately futile. Then there's the second half fade out - If we can go in winning at half time, it would be a start and may dent the Sky Blues new found confidence.

Going for the win.

Rams 2-1 Coventry

Photo: Action Images

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