Preview: Bristol City v Derby County

Tuesday, April 19th 2016

Bristol City v Derby County
Sky Bet Championship
Ashton Gate
Tuesday, April 19th (7.45pm)

Bristol City could seal their Sky Bet Championship status with victory over Derby County tonight at Ashton Gate.

All you need to know about tonight's opponents.

DERBY COUNTY
After agonisingly missing out on a play-off place despite leading the Sky Bet Championship for a large part of last season, Derby are almost certain of a top six finish this time around. The Rams are fifth in the division and are nine points clear of seventh with four games left. County have won their last three matches in a row, scoring nine goals and conceding just one. Striker Chris Martin is the club’s top scorer with 15 goals while Nick Blackman, who scored against City in the home and away fixtures against Reading, and Tom Ince, hat-trick hero in the reverse match, have 11 goals each.

HEAD COACH
Darren Wassall - Former Derby County and Nottingham Forest who made over 100 appearances for the side he now manages. In 2009, the 47-year-old took over as Derby academy manager under Nigel Clough’s regime. When Clough was sacked in 2013, Wassall took over as caretaker manager before Steve McClaren was installed and after McClaren’s successor Paul Clement was sacked in February, Wassall took over until the end of the season.

STAR MAN
Chris Martin - Norwich City academy graduate who played 117 times for the Carrow Road side. Martin had loan spells at Luton Town, Crystal Palace and Swindon Town before a loan move with Derby in 2013 turned permanent. The Scotland international has scored 57 goals for the Rams with nine coming this season.

OFFICIALS
Andy Davies is the man in the middle. He will be assisted by Adrian Tranter and Craig Taylor. Adam Matthews is the fourth official.

TICKETS
Pay on the night from the matchday ticket office on Ashton Road.

LAST TIME OUT
Derby County 4-0 Bristol City - Tom Ince netted a hat-trick as Derby secured a deserved win over City at the iPro Stadium. The 23-year-old opened the scoring with a low effort and doubled the Rams' advantage after half-time. He combined with Bent to earn the matchball 19 minutes from time before Johnny Russell put gloss on the scoreline with a header.

LAST SEASON
Sky Bet Championship: 8th
FA Cup: Fifth round (lost to Reading)
Capital One Cup: Fifth round (lost to Chelsea)

DID YOU KNOW?
Derby hold the record for the fewest points in a Premier League season. The Rams earned just 11 points in the 2007/08 campaign.