Match Preview

Rams v Clarets Preview

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It`s back to league action on Tuesday night for the Rams with the visit of Burnley to Pride Park (7.45pm). Rams boss Billy Davies was true to his word on Saturday when he rested a number of Rams players in the FA Cup victory against Bristol Rovers. With Stephen Pearson and David Jones both rested, Marc Edworthy an un-used sub and Dean Leacock suspended and Gary Teale cup-tied, meaning they will be all fresh for the game, if selected?

The Rams are hoping to continue their winning form which has taken them three points clear at the top of the Championship table. Davies side are showing that although they haven`t quite hit their straps yet, they are grinding out results, which is a sign of a good team.

The Clarets are now winless in their last eight Championship games and are coming off a 0-1 loss at home to Stoke City last Tuesday evening. Their last victory came back on November 28th a 2-1 home victory against struggling Leeds United at Turf Moor. Rams boss has a lot of time for Burnley`s young coach Steve Cotterill and before the clash at Turf Moor in December, were the Rams drew 0-0, Davies said: ‘I like Steve, he’s a first-class lad and is doing a great job at Burnley.
‘Steve always puts out a disciplined and well-organised side full of work ethic and with a great attitude.”

The teams for that game at Turf Moor:
Burnley: Coyne, Thomas, Duff, Harley, Foster, J O’Connor, McCann, S Jones, Elliott, Noel-Williams, Lafferty
Subs: Jensen (for Coyne, 18), Mahon, G O’Connor, Branch, Spicer.
Derby County: Bywater, Jackson, Leacock, Moore, Boertien, Oakley, Jones, S Johnson, Barnes, Howard, Stead
Subs: Bisgaard (for Oakley, 72), Lupoli (for Stead, 86), M Johnson (for Barnes, 88), Malcolm, Camara.

Cotterill hopes his players are switched for the clash with Derby, and he knows that too many of his players are turning in below-par displays.
He said: ‘I have a theory on how many players you need to get you a result.
‘If you have 11 players who play well on the day you will get a comprehensive win and if you have seven or eight playing well you will get a win.
‘If it’s five or six you will probably draw but if you only have three or four, you will lose.
‘Three our four players being on their game is not enough to get you a win.’


With the fixtures piling up, Billy gave valuable minutes on the pitch to some of his squad players. ‘There’s nothing we can do about the fixture list,’ he said, ‘but with so many games coming up we have to keep that freshness. There are one or two needing games, the likes of Jacko and Bob Malcolm, and we have to be very clever with the rotation of the squad.
Billy added: “If we can take care of our home games we won’t be too far away in May. We need to make more chances and score more goals at home, but it was nice to come through the weekend with a clean sheet and no serious injuries.”
‘We have a thought on the three games in eight days. Of course, we all know what the priority is, but at the same time, we want a good run in the Cup. We`ve put ourselves in the next round and hopefully while get a big draw like Manchester United at Old Trafford, or something like that.”

Derby County Team News:

The Rams have a full squad to choice from at the present. No injury problems have been report, only Paul Boertien is missing with a knee injury. A good headache for the Coach to have

Player to watch: Stephen Pearson

Rested on Saturday, he will be raring to go. After a good first up game against Southend the talented midfielder will supply the ammunition for the Rams to win the game

Burnley Team News:

No Burnley team news at the time of writing

Player to watch: Ade Akinbiyi

Signed from Sheffield United recently the 32-year-old has found the net on a regular basis at all the clubs he has played for. He scored on his Clarets debut in the FA Cup lose to reading, and he will be a really hand fall for the Rams defence

Match Facts & Stats

The most recent encounter between these two sides at Pride Park was less than a year ago, in March 2006, with Derby County running out comfortable 3-0 winners in a Championship match.

Last time we met at Pride Park March 11th 2006
Match report
Derby 3 Burnley 0
Smith,
Idiakez,
Moore

Derby’s sharpness dismantled the visitors in the opening 45 minutes. Idiakez had wasted a good chance and Brian Jensen denied Lisbie before McIndoe, who can be pleased with a promising debut, created the first goal. His beautifully-flighted cross was unselfishly headed back across goal by Lisbie to give Smith a tap-in for his sixth goal of the season.

McIndoe, white boots and all, is a confident and hungry player. Derby has given him a stage to prove he is Championship material and he has started to repay the faith shown in him by Westley.
Idiakez added the second goal from a free kick courtesy of a crumbling defensive wall and another of the Spaniard’s set-pieces beat Jensen and rebounded off the bar for Moore to steer in a header from 12 yards.
A three-goal interval lead for the first time in two years and it was game over.

Substitutions outweighed incidents in the second half and though more goals would have been nice, seeing the Rams remain focused, organised and determined was equally welcome.
The game meandered towards its inevitable conclusion and Lee Camp finished with a third consecutive clean sheet at home and his fourth in seven matches.
He had little to do but kept his concentration throughout, leaving Westley to praise the goalkeeper’s overall performance.

Unable to pick one star man from many but thoroughly content with what they had seen, the small group of fans disbanded and made their way down the steps of the stand.
As they did so, the latest protest against the club’s board gathered pace outside the main entrance.
A speedy and acceptable solution to the ownership battle is needed and then the football can be the main topic of discussion before and after every game.

Derby County: Camp, Moore, Nyatanga, Edworthy, Wright, Bolder, Barnes, Smith, Idiakez, McIndoe, Lisbie
Subs: Thirlwell (for Barnes, 80), Holmes (for McIndoe, 85), Peschisolido (for Lisbie, 88), Jackson, Poole (gk).
Burnley: Jensen, McGreal, Thomas, Sinclair, Harley, Hyde, J O’Connor, McCann, Elliott, G O’Connor, Ricketts
Subs: Spicer (for J O’Connor, 46), Branch (for Hyde, 57), Duff (for Sinclair, 71), Lafferty, Noel-Williams.
Referee: P J Joslin (Nottinghamshire)
Attendance: 23,292 (away fans 428)


The past five games Rams v Clarets at Derby

11-3-2006
Derby 3 – (Smith, Idiakez, Moore)
Burnley 0

23-2-2005
Derby 1 – (Peschisolido)
Burnley 1 – (Valois)

15/11/2003
Derby 2 – (Morris, Taylor)
Burnley 0

7-9-2002
Derby 1 – (Bolder)
Burnley 2 – (Blake, own goal)

15-3-1995
Derby 4 – (Mills, Trollope, Simpson, Gabbiadini)
Burnley 0

Match Prediction:

Simmo’s Prediction
Rams need a victory to keep the three point lead at the top, and I think they will get it.

Derby County 3 Burnley 1

Next Fixtures:

Saturday 3rd Feb v Southampton (A) – Championship
Saturday 10th Feb v Hull City (A) – Championship

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Simmo