🔎 MansionBet Match Preview: Derby County (H)

🔴 OURSELVES

City head into this weekend's fixture with the aim of getting back to winning ways and extending their unbeaten run at home to four games. 

The Robins' defeat at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United was their first since returning from the recent international break, after a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers and a hard fought 1-0 victory over high-flying Stoke City saw Nigel Pearson's side start on the front foot in the current block of fixtures. 

Pearson wants City to show the 'tenacity and resilience' against Derby that had sparked their turn in fortunes at Ashton Gate.

The manager told Robins TV: “It’s a game in which we need to get back to the types of qualities we have shown in terms of our tenacity and resilience. The players look forward to playing at home a lot more now.

“We are missing some experience in the side but we are going to rely on the young lads who are in their at the moment. What we have to fall back on is the team ethic to get through games.”

🧳  OUR OPPONENTS

Derby County went into administration in September following the collapse of takeover talks, earning them an immediate 12-point deduction, a punishment increased to 21 points in November after admitting to breaching EFL accounting rules. 

The deduction leaves them 11 points off Barnsley in the Championship table, and they are now 19 from safety at this early point in the season.

Wins have been few and far between for Wayne Rooney’s men, with four from 20 games, but they will need as many as they can get if they are to succeed in their unlikely bid to avoid relegation. 

The Rams have proved resilient, however, conceding fewer goals than any club outside the top six. They were on course for a fourth match unbeaten on Monday night before Andre Gray’s 90th-minute stunner for Queens Park Rangers stole the show; a gutting end to the nightat Pride Park where Derby’s performance under the lights was described as “spirited”. 

📝 DERBY COUNTY PROFILE

Formed: 1884
Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Nickname: The Rams
Manager: Wayne Rooney
Finish last season: 21st, Sky Bet Championship 

Honours:

• Division One: Champions 1971/72, 1974/75
• Division Two: Champions 1911/12, 1914/15, 1968/69, 1986/87
• Division Three (North): Champions 1956/57
• FA Cup: Winners 1946
• Texaco Cup: Winners 1972
• Watney Cup: Winners 1970
• Charity Shield: Winners 1975

READ THE ROBINS MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

📍 MATCH DETAILS 

Where: Ashton Gate Stadium
When: Saturday, December 4th (3pm)
Competition: Sky Bet Championship

Referee: Graham Scott
Assistant Referee: Derek Eaton
Assistant Referee: Daniel Leach
Fourth Official: Leigh Doughty