please log in to view this image Derby County vs Leeds United please log in to view this image Saturday October 5th, 2013 - K.O 15:00 - Pride Park please log in to view this image Welcome to a somewhat lighter weight match thread for this one, because I'm laid up in bed with flu at the minute! It's time for Leeds to make a trip down to Derby, and to what has proved historically an unhappy hunting ground for the whites. While Leeds have won more league meetings in total with this fixture, they haven't beaten Derby at Pride Park in the last 7 attempts. This 97th league meeting of the two sides sees both arrive in distinctly mediocre form. Leeds managed to arrest a run of defeats against 10 man Bournemouth midweek - though there were still concerns among the fans regarding the performance after Bournemouth were allowed back into a game which should have been wrapped up by that point. Derby also managed to break a losing streak which saw long term manager Nigel Clough lose his job. They staged an impressive comeback against Ipswich in the midweek fixture, after finding themselves 4-1 down, with a final score of 4-4. The visit of Leeds this weekend will be the first game in charge for new boss Steve McLaren back at the club where he was a player. The weather forecast isn't showing rain, so Steve should be able to leave the brolly at home for this one... Form Guide (Last 5 League Games) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD]Team[/TD] [TD]Form[/TD] [TD="align: center"]F[/TD] [TD="align: center"]A[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Pts[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Leeds[/TD] [TD]W - L - L - L - W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]4[/TD] [TD="align: center"]6[/TD] [TD="align: center"]6[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Derby[/TD] [TD]W - X - L - L - X[/TD] [TD="align: center"]12[/TD] [TD="align: center"]11[/TD] [TD="align: center"]5[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Head to Head (Previous League Games) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Team[/TD] [TD="align: center"]P[/TD] [TD="align: center"]W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]D[/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]F[/TD] [TD="align: center"]A[/TD] [TD="align: center"]GD[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Pts[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Leeds[/TD] [TD="align: center"]96[/TD] [TD="align: center"]42[/TD] [TD="align: center"]23[/TD] [TD="align: center"]31[/TD] [TD="align: center"]142[/TD] [TD="align: center"]122[/TD] [TD="align: center"]+20[/TD] [TD="align: center"]149[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Derby[/TD] [TD="align: center"]96[/TD] [TD="align: center"]31[/TD] [TD="align: center"]23[/TD] [TD="align: center"]42[/TD] [TD="align: center"]122[/TD] [TD="align: center"]142[/TD] [TD="align: center"]-20[/TD] [TD="align: center"]116[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Early Betting Odds (Correct on 4/10/13) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD]Derby Win[/TD] [TD]Draw[/TD] [TD]Leeds Win[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]21/20[/TD] [TD]13/5[/TD] [TD]14/5[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Leeds United Top Scorers (League) Ross McCormack...4 Luke Varney...2 Dominic Poleon...1 Derby County Top Scorers (League) Craig Bryson...6 Johnny Russell...4 Chris Martin...3 Durham's Prediction This will be a tricky game for us. Derby will be coming into it off the back of an impressive second half midweek, and wanting to continue to impress the new boss and justify their spot in the squad. Add that to the fact that Leeds often fare poorly at Pride Park and I'm going for a 1-1 draw, ignoring the fact that I think we very well may lose this one. please log in to view this image I'm sticking with the lineup that I suggested for Bournemouth. I don't know why Diouf isn't getting a look in at the minute, but he still remains a better option that Tonge for me, and it still allows Ross to play upfront, which he's been more vocal about this week again. Mowatt has definitely done enough to justify his place in the side, and hopefully he carries on where he left off. I still can't make my mind up whether Poleon is ready to start, so maybe Varney in there, but he will only get experience by playing! If you find a decent audio link, drop it in the thread! OK, over to the not606 faithful. Let's hear score predictions and what team you think will go out.
I hope Ross & Varney start up top with Mowatt, Diouf, Austin, & Murphy in midfield, and the usual back 4 with Byram at RB. I think such a team will alow us to scrape home 2-1. But I would be too disappointed with a 1-1. Scoring 4 against Ipswich suggests this won't be an easy game, not that it ever is against Derby. But we do need to keep it tight and press them hard. Might also consider Diouf out wide, Austin in the centre of a midfield 3 and either Brown or Green at CB. Means Mowatt misses out, but he can always come off the bench to make a difference if required.
I can't see us getting anything out of this game. I've hated the rams since the 70s, never easy playing them.
0-3 And some of you will think promotion is a certainty. 3-0 and you will have us relegated. It's going to be 2-2 and mid table mediocrity.
I'm actually feeling confident about this game (and I haven't felt confident about a game in a while). I'd play Smith upfront as Derby have been struggling defensively at set pieces and from crosses, Ross has to play upfront as well. Mowatt, I think just cannot be dropped at the moment, he is having a huge influence although you don't want to see him rushed in. Hopefully Byram can come back at RB because imo Peltier is just woeful there
If he does go with Smith (and that seems like a pretty good reason to) then I hope he grabs a goal, because I think it'll help his confidence immeasurably.
Its scary that our leading scorer is only on four goals Really hope we can sign a bit of quality on loan
Yeah when I looked at the stats I didn't actually think Ross had got 4 either . We need to start scoring us some goals!
bad mood today, sorry, really do need a Leeds win to lift the spirits. Usually that means a 3-0 thumping, but here's hoping
I presume you missed the part about McClaren coming into the Derby dressing room when they were 1-4 down, making two substitutions on the spot, changing the formation and putting a rocket up their backsides so they came out and drew it 4-4? I never rated McClaren, but that sounds like he's finally learnt something about football.
