Derby v Leeds, Wednesday 21st February, 7.45pm, Sky Sports Main Event
Derby County and Leeds United meet at Pride Park this evening in a crucial clash for the two clubs. If results go their way tonight, the Rams could move back into the automatic promotion places as they look to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2008 where they posted a record low points score of 11.
Meanwhile, Leeds are in a pack of clubs on 45 points who have fading ambitions of a play-off place but will need to put a run together to make it into the top six. They currently lie in 12th, eight points off the play-offs.
Form Guide
Derby come into this one with just one win in their last five games and they did lose last time out. That was their first defeat in 13 Championship games which saw them into the top two, but they have dropped down to fourth with too many draws. Their solid defence has been key to their good home form, they have only conceded three goals in their last nine games at home.
Leeds are in awful form with no wins in their last nine games in all competitions. This includes an embarrassing FA Cup defeat at Newport and a 4-1 hammering at home by former boss Neil Warnock’s Cardiff side. They have not improved under Paul Heckingbottom results wise and the wheels have come off their promotion push. They face a tough task here.
Head-To-Head
There really isn’t too much to read into when these sides have met in the past. Of the last five meetings, Leeds have won two, Derby have won two and there has been one draw. Derby won the meeting at Elland Road earlier in the season 2-1, but the last time either side did the league double over one another was in the 2012/12 season, when the Rams came out on top.
GR: "I don't think I'll make six changes for tomorrow's game, but I may make some changes."
Did You Know?
Since relegation from the Premier League in 2004, Leeds have lost 13 league matches against Derby, the joint-most to any other club.
Team News
Derby
The Rams could welcome back George Thorne to the squad after he missed the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last time out with a back injury. Gary Rowett has the rarity of a fully fit squad to choose from and will be confident of all three points as he takes on his opposite number, Paul Heckingbottom.
Leeds
The Leeds boss is also buoyed by a few returning players. Gaetano Berardi, Liam Cooper and key man Samu Saiz are all back after bans and should give the gaffer a few more options going forward. Felix Wiedward and Any Lonergan are both battling to start in goal, with neither of them having nailed down a starting spot.
Prediction
This should be a hotly contested game played in a good atmosphere, but Derby should be able to squeeze by a Leeds side that is out of form.
Derby 2-1 Leeds
