Derby County will look to strengthen their position in the play-off places this afternoon as they take on Bolton Wanderers.
Wanderers sit just five points above the relegation places and in a twist of fate this was the positions two years ago as the Rams went on to win 4-1 and confirm the relegation of Wanderers. Rams fans will be hoping for a similar result this afternoon.
Bolton have the worst away record in the Championship, picking up just eleven points whilst on their travels. This however is no measure of what could take place as pressure mounts on teams down to tenth place. The pressure has intensified in recent weeks with just five points separating the Rams in fifth and Preston in tenth position. Nerves will play a big part in who reaches the play-off stage of this seasons Championship race.
Who will Rowett choose today?
Rams manager Gary Rowett also has the dilemma of which players to choose for the game following his sensational decision to drop Rams Captain Richard Keogh and promote Curtis Davies to that role in the one-nil away win over Preston NE on Monday. Alex Pearce had stepped into Keogh’s position for this game and after a good display could keep the role for the start of today’s game.
No one will be underestimating Bolton as they still need points to stave off relegation worries this season. The Trotters do have injury concerns this afternoon and Jan Kirchoff, the former Bayern Munich ccentre-backwill be missing due to a hamstring problem.
The Rams may be without Bradley Johnson again, as he continues to recover from a foot injury which kept him out of the win over Preston on Monday, otherwise Gary Rowett looks to have a full squad to choose from.
