After the Lord Mayor’s show? Or has Jewell turned around the poor form of the last few games?
Derby County v Crystal Palace
Coca Cola Championship
3:00pm, 6th November 2008
Pride Park, Derby
A warning from Colin: "We're starting to get things together. We're looking to win away games and while we'll make mistakes I think we can still be optimistic. I don't set targets but realistically, we want to be one of the teams who are up there at the end of the season. We've got some momentum and we're playing well. I certainly wouldn't want to play us at the minute." Thus said Neil Warnock following the 0-0 draw with QPR. A dull game, the match report says the highlight was a protracted warm up by the 4th official when he replaced the linesman! Palace currently lie 13th in the table 2 points ahead of the Rams. After an indifferent start to the season they seem to be finally getting things together. Losing out to Bristol City in the play offs must have really hurt and obviously the team has taken time to recover. Losing Clinton Morrison to Coventry was also a blow. Warnock has taken a gamble on bringing in injury prone striker Craig Beattie on loan from West Brom - and it seems to be paying off. he's managed four goals in thirteen starts for Palace and they are slowly moving up the table. Ram Trialee, John Oster will probably start for Palace although there's no reports of any injuries in the Palace camp. Palace facts Current Palace Squad 1 GK Julián Speroni 2 DF Matthew Lawrence (Vice-captain) 3 DF Clint Hill 4 MF Shaun Derry (captain) 5 DF Paddy McCarthy 6 DF José Fonte 7 MF Carl Fletcher 8 FW James Scowcroft 9 FW Alan Lee 10 MF Nick Carle 11 FW Victor Moses 12 GK Darryl Flahavan 14 FW Sean Scannell 15 DF Lee Hills 16 MF Neil Danns 17 FW Simon Thomas 18 FW Calvin Andrew 19 FW Craig Beattie (on loan from West Bromwich Albion) 20 DF Danny Butterfield 22 DF Johannes Ertl 23 MF Paul Ifill 24 MF Ben Watson 26 MF John Oster 27 MF Leandre Griffit 30 DF Ryan Carolan 31 MF Jamie Smith 32 FW Shefki Kuqi 35 DF Rhoys Wiggins 38 GK David Wilkinson 41 MF Kieran Djilali 42 MF James Comley 43 DF Nathaniel Clyne 45 MF Kieron Cadogan
| Last 5 ... |
| Coventry 0-2 Crystal Palace |
| Cardiff 2-1 Crystal Palace |
| Crystal Palace 4-2 Bristol City |
| Norwich 1-2 Crystal Palace |
| Crystal Palace 0-0 QPR |
Games since... Clean sheet 0 Goal 1 Loss 3 No score draw 0 Score draw 5 Win 1
| Top scorers |
| Watson 5 |
| Beattie 4 |
| Ifill 3 |
| Kuqi 3 |
The Rams
Paul Jewell told BBC Radio Derby: "These fans are fantastic. They've not stopped singing since the first whistle and it gives them something to hang on to. I'm pleased for the supporters and the chairman as much as anyone else." The injury time winner at Stoke has been compared to being at Wembley again by some of the 5000 supporters who were there - and I would agree. Even the post whistle snowball bombardment from some of the fans watching in the big gap didn't cool down the bouncing Rams fans. Hats off to Paul Jewell - I among others have often branded him tactically Naive - his tactic of leaving 3 up field to leave the penalty area uncrowded for the goalkeeper and defenders to deal wit the Delap long throw was a master stroke. Now he has to avoid the "after the lord Mayor's show" effect and get the team ready for Palace. He has a couple of dilemmas- stick with Nathan Ellington or restore Luke Varney, and who will replace Paul Green in midfield? Number one is fairly straightforward - Bring back Varney. Despite the result last week at Burnley, Varney looked impressive and had pace. If we forget the penalty, Ellington never looked like scoring in the Stoke game and some fans around me thought he'd been poor. Another option would be to replace Hulse with Varney - or replace Hulse and Ellington with Villa and Varney. Giles Barnes played for 90 minutes in a behind closed doors game on Tuesday and he looks as if he's putting his injuries behind him. It might be to early to bring him back for Green but I wouldn't be surprised to see him on the bench. Gary Teale came on to replace Green and his contribution led to the penalty from which we won the game. He flatters to deceive however and is deeply unpopular with the fans. For a while at Wigan he looked a world-beater and it's hard to see him as the same player at the moment. I'd be tempted to give one of the peripheral players a run out ahead of Teale such as Sterjovski.
Mick's Team: Carroll, Stewart, Powell, Tomkins, Connolly, Commons, Addison, Kaz, Barazite, Ellington, Varney
What the bookies think
No favourite this week - William Hill has both the Rams and Palace at 6/4 while the draw is at 21/10. I’d have thought that made the draw the favourite still if I was any good at betting I’d be sble to pay someone else to write this.
Rob Hulse is favourite to score first for the Rams while Luke Varney is at 13/2. Shefki Kuqi & Craig Beattie are also at 13/2.
Information for travelling fans
Driving: South Norwood to Derby is about 142 miles. Take M25, M1 North to J25 then take the A52 Brian Clough Way to Derby. You will see the ground on your left as you arrive in Derby. Follow the signs fo the parking or stay on the A52 as described below.
Parking: It used to be at the old Wilmorten College site however that is now a housing estate so away fans should 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 for a £5 at the hospital further up London Rd near the hospital and the Railway station. 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
I can see this being a draw all things considered. It's up to the fans not to get on the players backs again however. If we get behind the time like we did at the Britannia, anything is possible.