RamZone Match Preview - Derby vs. Southampton
Friday, 14th Oct 2011 15:12 by Daniel J Sewart

With two weeks to ready themselves to bounce back – Derby welcome the league leaders and will be hoping to find themselves equal with the Saints by the final whistle.

Derby County vs. Southampton

Pride Park Stadium Derbyshire

3pm - Saturday October 15th

Current Form – Last 5 League Matches:

Derby: 3rd – L , W, W, D, L

Southampton: 1st – W, W, D, L, W

The Rams

Kevin Kilbane is a chance to return to the left back position after shaking off his hamstring complaint and playing a full match for the reserves during the week.

Jamie Ward was carrying a hamstring injury that meant he was unable to take his place in the Northern Ireland team during the international break but may be ready for the Saints clash.

On the other hand Nathan Tyson is still battling injury and is likely to miss a couple more matches as he recovers from a small operation.

Speaking to the DET, Nigel Clough was looking forward to the test of 6 matches in 22 days:

“It looks a tough run; we’ve got top-of-the-table Southampton, Middlesbrough away, Reading away, Portsmouth and Cardiff at home, and Peterborough away which will be as hard as any of the games.”

“This next batch of fixtures will test our top-six credentials and it is a challenge but one the players should relish. For the best part of the last couple of years we have been looking at the bottom six and thinking we need so many points to get out of it.”

“This is a different sort of challenge, a much more pleasant one. Whether you are down near the bottom or up near the top, you have to relish it. We will keep going for the wins; it does not pay to be negative in the Championship.”

“We lost our last game, at Leicester but we have bounced back well from defeats so far this season and we are hoping to do that tomorrow.”

The Saints

There is some hope that Lee Barnard will return to the squad after being out for the season to date with and ankle injury. If so he may start on the bench while Dan Harding and Radhi Jaidi are also closing in on a return.

David Connolly did not appear for the Saints during their clash with Watford but may be brought back straight away to test the Rams defence.

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins expects a big finish to the top of the table clash:

"We go up to Derby County on Saturday with 32,000 people in the stadium and it will be bouncing because it will be a great game. They have had a good start to the season, so it should be an exciting game of football for whoever goes."

"Nigel Clough has gone up there and done a great job, he has been there a couple of years now and it just shows that you need a bit of time to stamp your authority on the side. They are up there at the top of the league at the moment and that is testament to the fact that if you stick by your manager for as long as possible then you get to see the positives."

"We have a good squad of players and we need to make sure that everyone is utilised. We have talked about how fit we are and how strongly we finish games, but Derby is the same, they finish games well so I think there will be goals scored towards the end of the game on Saturday.”

DanJ’s Match Preview:

Having had two weeks to stew on their poor showing at Leicester, you would hope besides being well rested, the Rams squad would be ready to run through brick walls on Saturday. They will be out to prove they are a far better team than the one that was mauled by the Foxes.

With no new injury concerns but no new returning players either - it will be interesting to see if Nigel turns to any of his recently neglected attacking players for goals.

Cywka, Maguire and Ball must all be in the reckoning for some game time and I for one would like to see Tomasz back on the park if for no other reason than to add some creativity to the forward half.

In Davies we have a hard working forward who will convert more often than not and in Robinson we have pace and a weapon to worry defences. For me the Rams have been lacking a spark who can provide the unexpected and Cywka could be that player.

When the Rams were flying last season Tomasz looked like the signing of the season and he only fell away when the support collapsed around him. He needs protection and quality around him to support his creative flourishes.

With a far stronger group around him this season, if given the chance he could once again find the form that last season found him on the verge of an international call up for Poland. Two goals for the reserves mid-week will not have done his chances any harm.

The Rams surely can't put in a shift as bad as the one at Leicester and despite lining up against the league leaders, the Saints squad does not have the same threats as the cashed up Foxes.

Both teams will be looking to prove they deserve to be sitting top of the table and hopefully that will result in a fabulous contest for a sell out crowd at Pride Park.

Dan J’s Score Prediction:

I think it will end in a draw but if Cywka is added to the mix we may just snatch it.

Derby 1 – 1 Southampton

For visitors to Pride Park

Parking

There is not a great deal of parking available close to Pride Park. The best bet is to either park in the city centre (lots of signposted car parks) or the Cattle Market Car Park.

Stay on the A52 to the Pentagon Island, take the first left and follow the road round to the left. It’s about a 10-minute walk to the Stadium.

There’s also a car park straight off the A52 at the Pride Park junction by the fireplace showroom however it’s a pain in the arse to get out of after the match. If you are looking for free parking head for Ascot Drive off the A6 and park down one of the side streets.

Where to drink

There are a few pubs and Eateries near the ground but not all admit away fans showing colours these days. The Navigation Inn on London rd has always been popular with away fans and there’s a Harvester and Frankie & Bennies on Pride Park.

The natives are friendly as long as you aren’t being an arse.