Charlton Athletic are the first midweek visitors to Pride Park this season and will hope to leave with three points after a relatively poor start which sees them sit level on points with The Rams on five points.
Despite the lowly position Nigel CLough’s side currently occupies, they have played quite well so far, but they will need to create and score chances if they are to avoid a relegation scrap and challenge for the top six. They are fully capable of doing this and a win against Charlton would mean back-to-back victories at home for the first time this season.
Vital Quotes:
Derby stopper Frank Fielding is willing to accept an ugly win if it means getting three points on the board.
He told Rams Player: ‘Prior to Saturday, we haven`t really had a problem putting the ball in the back of the net.
‘We beat Watford 5-1 and had no issues scoring in the previous fixtures, other than at the Reebok Stadium against Bolton, so we were a bit disappointed.
‘The performance was there, just not the goals, so we need to put that right on Tuesday.
‘I would take playing badly if it meant we were winning games. Huddersfield scored early and then they shut up shop; I cannot remember having a save to make other than the one in the second-half.
‘But, we will learn from it; we have got to start taking our chances, which I know we will go on to do.’
The Rams Team News:
Paul Coutts will come back into the side, replacing Conor Doyle in a change to the side that slipped to defeat at Huddersfield.
Player to watch: Theo Robinson
Sometimes when scoring goals is tough, you need a natural goalscorer on the pitch.
Theo hasn’t had much game time this season but has two goals for The Rams and, despite his Twitter indiscretions, is possibly Derby’s most lethal finisher.
The Addicks Team News:
Charlton full-back Rhoys Wiggins will miss out after breaking two bones in his foot in the Palace game.
Player to watch: Ricardo Fuller
Although guilty of missing good chances in the home defeat to London rivals Crystal Palace at the weekend, Fuller has already proven to be a handful in his two-game spell at The Valley.
He has caused Derby problems many times in the past and is naturally extremely gifted but has been robbed of a better career by terrible knee injuries.
Match Facts & Stats
Derby’s last five:
Sheffield Wednesday (h) 2-2
Bolton Wanderers (a) 0-2
Wolverhampton Wanderers (a) 1-1
Watford (h) 5-1
Huddersfield Town (a) 0-1
Charlton last five:
Birmingham City (a) 1-1
Leicester City (h) 2-1
Hull City (h) 0-0
Nottingham Forest (a) 1-2
Crystal Palace (h) 0-1
Next Fixtures:
Derby vs. Burnley, Sat 22nd September 2012, 15:00, nPower Championship