please log in to view this image SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Venue: Pride Park Date: Monday 10th February Kick-off: 19:45 BST please log in to view this image Match Preview Derby County host Queens Park Rangers in the Championship on Monday evening, with both teams looking to maintain their respective promotion challenge. The Rams were held to a 3-3 draw by Birmingham City last weekend, as they stretched their unbeaten run to four games. Their good form has seen them climb to fourth in the table, and they are just four points away from their opponents, who are in third spot. QPR also shared a six-goal thriller last weekend, as they came from behind to claim a 3-3 draw with Burnley. They have gone six games without defeat and will be keen to move back into second place following Burnley's 3-1 win against Millwall on Saturday. Derby are without long-term absentees Shaun Barker and Paul Coutts, while QPR winger Matt Phillips could be out for the season after picking up a leg injury last weekend. The visitors have a number of players on the sidelines, with Danny Simpson, Charlie Austin, and Yossi Benayoun all ruled out. Recent form Derby: LLWDWD QPR: DWWWWD Derby County Possible Starting Xl......... GRANT KEOGH - BUXTON - WISDOM - FORSYTH WARD - EUSTACE - HUGHES - BRYSON - BAMFORD MARTIN QPR Possible Starting Xl............... GREEN HUGHES - DUNNE - HILL - ASSOU-EKOTTO HOILETT - BARTON - HENRY - TRAORE KRANJCAR DOYLE please log in to view this image MATCH FACTS Head-to-Head ⢠QPR won the earlier meeting this season 2-1 at Loftus Road in November. ⢠The Rs are unbeaten in the last six meetings, winning three. Derby's last win was 2-0 at Loftus Road in September 2008. ⢠And the Rs are unbeaten in the last seven meetings at Derby, winning three. Derby's last home win was 2-0 in the old Division One in February 1990. Derby ⢠Derby are unbeaten in their last four games, drawing two. They had lost their previous three games in all competitions. ⢠They have scored 57 league goals so far this season - more than any other side in the Championship. ⢠They have won six of their last seven home games in the Championship. The only time they have failed to win at home in the league since October was in a 1-0 defeat to Wigan on New Year's Day. QPR ⢠QPR are unbeaten in their last six games in the Championship, winning four. ⢠They have conceded the fewest goals (20) and kept the most clean sheets (14) in the Championship so far this season. ⢠They have lost only one of their last four away games in the Championship, winning two. Their only away defeat in the league since November was 2-0 against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day. MEET THE MANAGERS please log in to view this image v please log in to view this image MaClaren v Redknapp THE REF please log in to view this image Yorkshire official placed in charge of live Sky Sports fixture against Derby County on Monday evening ... REFEREE Michael Naylor will take charge of Monday's live televised Sky Bet Championship fixture against Derby County at Pride Park. A resident of South Yorkshire, Naylor has been appointed to his third QPR fixture of the season. Naylor oversaw Augustâs 1-0 win against Ipswich Town at Loftus Road and Rangers 0-0 draw at Wigan Athletic's DW Stadium in October. So far this campaign Naylor has officiated in 23 matches, issuing 52 yellow cards, one red card and awarding four penalties. In May last year Naylor was rewarded by taking charge of the FA Vase Final at Wembley Stadium between Spennymoor Town and Tunbridge Wells. He will be assisted by David Avant and Alan Young whilst Trevor Kettle will look after the fourth official duties. please log in to view this image DERBY 5/4 DRAW 23/10 QPR 11/5 please log in to view this image
Nice one Nines - I had almost forgotten after such a stress free weekend that we have a match to play tomorrow!
No problem my friend across the pond of who I'm very fond. Don't get too frantic on the other side of the Atlantic. . . . How are you mate? Nice one Jarlin, I hope you're right and I wished I shared your optimism. I'm starting to get a bit nervous about our run in..
It was nice to finally have a weekend not digging yourself out of snow and to watch a few football matches as a neutral. Regarding the match tomorrow, I'm cautiously optimistic if we can make our goal scoring opportunities count and be tight in defence. Derby under Steve McClaren have certainly been punching above their weight, but in the past couple of games they conceded three goals at Birmigham in a 3-3 draw and two at home to Yeovil in a 3-2 win (from 0-2 down), so here's hoping.
Good observations Killy, but in my experience the recent form of the opposition often goes against us. I'll be happy with a point from this game.
What does everyone think of the opposition manager? That's Foolham's Darren Bent's missus... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...e-Kirsty-Maclaren-stop-kissing-Honeymoon.html She was engaged to QPR fan and WBA's defender Liam Ridgewell and has two kids from him. She was due to marry Ridgewell but the wedding was cancelled two days before the big £170,000 event. She then married Bent soon after.
I'm nervous about tonight. Not sure which team will show up. Really hope Harry plays two upfront and goes for the win. A loss tonight really opens up the running for second place, whereas 3pts tonight will lay down a marker to our nearest challengers. Massive game
I think we will start with 5 in midfield at first & see how it goes, but did like that formation against burnley which was very attacking but we did leave ourselves open a bit, can't wait but like you nervous.
Nuts is right about the significance of the result. I was going to write that I'd take the draw but as games now close in towards the end, we need to win away as well as at home so let's start tonight. Doyle brace, 2:1 QPR
Seems lately Derby's defence has the potential to leak goals and then they rely on going for broke in the second half. So playing 4-4-2 and putting early pressure on them is probably the way to go
Really looking forward to your game tonight and wouldn't know how to call it either ... Derby have been a real surprise under Mclaren - he seems to have galvanised the team and has a good mix of youth and experience. They've been on a tremendous run - if you exclude the game at our place (which was arguably our best performance of the season - and perhaps they weren't at the races) particularly at home - and it should be a good atmosphere there tonight. All set up for an intriguing game and I don't really know which result I'd prefer from our perspective - a draw means you both drop 2 points (arguably preferrable from a purely mathematical perspective) - but a win for you would make Derby's task of reaching a top two spot a formidable task - a win for them and the race between you, them and Burnley for a top two spot has just a point in it and the pressure on all of you ratchets up a few notches ... May the best team win tonight ... I'll go out on a limb and predict a tense but entertaining draw ... probably 1-1 (my precictions are usually way off mind! . Good luck.
It's a huge tactical decision for Harry and his staff and one that we all will be hoping he gets right. I think we have looked more dangerous in recent weeks playing with two upfront but surely we can't take to the pitch again in a 4-4-2 without a DCM which unfortunately means Henry. I'm not ambidextrous enough to cross everything that needs to be crossed.
You should hope for the draw, because you were not too impressive against Watford and quite fortunate to get a point. A definite wobble which might just be the start of a collapse? Edit: (In reply to Fosse)
Reading your write up it would seem you you've already nailed as cert promotion & that only spot left is 2nd, be very aware lots of games left yet fosse, don't count your chickens yet.
I'm sure the run-in will have many twists. Leicester fans have every reason to be confident, just as long as their players keep their feet on the floor. Last couple of performances, have been a tad fortunate. But then you make your own luck
Have to disagree in part there buddy ... sure we didn't roll them over but they came with a definite game plan to make it difficult for us and indeed they did ... I wouldn't agree that we were "fortunate" to get a point - we had 68% possession and 18 goal attemps (double Watfords) - if Nuge was a better finisher we'd even have won (he had a chance from 6 yards after we'd equalised yet put it wide) ... but we'd have lost tham game last season ... so from that perspective I was 'impressed' - we stayed patient, kept trying to get it wide and create chances - and, for me, got the reward we deserved in the end ... we now get a well earned (after that run of 28 points from 30) rest for 10 days, which may well have come at just the right time (i.e now that our win momentum has come to an end) ...
... read it again Jeff ... at all points I refer to a 'top two' spot ... I've been watching football far too long for taking anything for granted ... in terms of how I feel about where we are I'd agree with your manager's lates comments - to paraphrase - 'everyone else would love to be where we are right now - but we can still be caught' ...
