please log in to view this image V please log in to view this image Saturday 15th October 2011 - 3pm @ Pride Park Stadium, Derby please log in to view this image Kits Derby County please log in to view this image Southampton please log in to view this image Focus on the opposition Manager: Nigel Clough Top Scorer: Steve Davies (5) Stadium: Pride Park - Capacity: 33,597 Current Position: 3rd (Championship) Club Legend: Brian Clough (Manager - 1967-1973) Player/manager with Saints connection: Peter Shilton (Southampton: 188 apps - 1982-1987, Derby County: 175 apps - 1987-1992) Last 3 results: Leicester City 4 - 0 Derby County (Championship) Derby County 1 - 1 Barnsley (Championship) Derby County 3 - 0 Millwall (Championship) Like Southampton, Derby County have had a good start to the 2011/12 Championship season. They have notched up a total of 19 points from 10 games and sit in 3rd place, just 3 points behind the league leaders. While results have been fairly good for The Rams this season (amassing 6 wins from their 10 games so far this term), a 4-0 defeat away at Leicester last time out will have definately sent them back down to earth and given themselves something to think about. To add fuel to the fire, within the last week, manager Nigel Clough had been strongly linked with a move to local rivals Nottingham Forest, however with former Portsmouth manager, Steve Cotterill taking up the reigns, those rumours have now been quashed. Reports also suggest Clough is close to signing a new contract with Derby County. However, there is no doubt that the international break has been a rather unsetling time for The Rams. This can only be good news for The Saints as it's probably an ideal time to play them, although it can be said with relative confidence that Nigel Adkins will not be taking anything for granted. Recent History Once again for Saints, it's another meeting with a side they have not faced since the 2008/09 season. Last time out on 30th March 2009, it was a stalemate at St Marys, 1-1 the final score with goals from Chris Perry (Saints) and Steve Davies (Derby). The last meeting at Pride Park was on 23rd August 2008 where Southampton turned out 1-0 winners thanks to a goal from David McGoldrick. Perhaps the most memorable meeting between the sides in recent years was the 2006/07 Championship play-off semi-final, contested over two legs. Derby took victory at St Marys in the first leg with a 2-1 result, Saints responded by taking victory at Pride Park in the second leg with a 3-2 result - meaning the semi final had an aggregate score of 4-4. A penalty shoot-out decided the fate of both sides, where The Rams came out on top. They went on to beat West Bromwich Albion in the play-off final at Wembley and gain promotion to the Premier League where they stayed for just a single season. In the last 10 meetings between the sides, Derby have won 3 times, Saints have won 3 times and there have been 4 draws (this includes the 2006/07 play-off semi final results, counting both team's individual wins rather than Derby's overall victory). Last 5 league matches Derby County - L W W D L Southampton - W W D L W (Saints have picked up 10 points from a possible 15 and Derby have picked up 7)
Due to the current form of both sides, i'm going for a stalemate; 1-1. I reckon this will be a tough one for the Saints - Derby like to knock it around and attack hard just like we do.
I don't wanna say this but i have too,i'm going for a Derby victory,with 30,000 behind them and alot of motivation to beat us i think they'll do it,unfortunately.Not negative,just saying it how i see it.I'm going to the game though so i hope the boys prove me wrong.
The two away defeats at Cardiff and Leicester were down to silly slips and errors. If we can concentrate and keep it nice and tight at the back there is no reason why we cannot get a result. I can't wait to get up there!
This is a hard month so it will be good to start with a win to buy a little lee-way. I don't think anyone thinks we will win all the October games. So I'm going for a 2.0 win to Saints.
Oh no, Brian Clough is managing. OP editted now - Much happier now, I think we'll win with this managerial change.
Ha ha, well noticed! Sorry about that typo - it really does seem that Nigel is still living in his father's shadow!
If both teams like to knock it around and attack, wouldn't this end up being a high-scoring affair? Why all the 1-1 predictions? Also - two managers named Nigel!
Absoloutely no idea how this will go, so I'll go down the middle and predict 1-1. Wouldn't be surprised in we won comfortably. Wouldn't be surprised if we lost.
Derby were torn apart 4-0 last time out against leicester. hopefully a dent in confidence, they fell away after a good start last season. speculation, now quashed that clough could go to forest. hopefully a good time to play them.
Watched Derby on the box lose to Coventry and Leicester, looked very poor in both games, surprised at their league position. If NA has got us fired up which I'm sure he will, can only see a comfortable Saints win 2-0
