The Rams return home from a defeat and the icy conditions of Burnley to find much the same awaiting them at Pride Park.
Derby County vs. Norwich City
15:00 - Saturday 4th December 2010
Pride Park Derbyshire
Derby v Norwich - Historical
P 30 W 11 D 12 L 7 F 38 A 33
Last game at Pride Park
28/10/08 Derby County 3 - 1 Norwich; Kazmierczak, Green, Hulse
Recent Form
Norwich 5/24 P 19 W 8 D 6 L 5 F 30 A 20
Leading scorers: Holt 7lg2cp
Derby 4/24 P 19 W 9 D 3 L 7 F 37 A 19
Leading scorers: Commons (10)
The Rams
We're slipping a bit - and we need to get back on track. Too many bad habits resurfaced against Burnley. Okay we were missing a few key players - that's football and we have to learn to live with that.
That's not major criticism. If you'd asked me pre-season if I'd have been disappointed with a 2-1 reverse at Turf Moor, I'd have probably mumbled something about "Not expecting anything there".
The injury to Bueno and Commons illness probably contributed - Commons being the latest victim of the bug - but it's disappointing to concede late goals when you are ahead.
Hopefully Clough and the team will learn how to cope with late surges by teams.
One thing other that Clough needs to learn. Stephen Pearson is still not 100% and is not looking good in the midfield role. He doesn't win the ball, doesn't score and does not pass well. He doesn't seem to have absorbed the team spirit.
Don't get me wrong. Pearson is clearly a talented footballer - it's just that we aren't seeing much of it. Performances don't lie. He's not been effective for a while.
Probable Team
Fielding
Brayford, Barker, Leacock, Moxe
Bailey, Savage
Green, Cywka, Commons
Moore
Substitutes
Bywater, Pringle, Hendrick, Kuqi, Porter, Doyle
Current Rams Squad
No. Position Player
1 Keeper Stephen Bywater
2 Defender John Brayford
3 Defender Gareth Roberts
4 Midfield Paul Green
5 Defender Shaun Barker (vice-captain)
6 Defender Dean Leacock
7 Striker Steve Davies
8 Midfield Robbie Savage
9 Striker Shefki Kuqi (on loan from Swansea City)
10 Midfield Kris Commons
11 Midfield Stephen Pearson
12 Striker Chris Porter
13 Keeper Saul Deeney
14 Defender Russell Anderson
15 Midfield David Martin
16 Midfield James Bailey
17 Defender Jake Buxton
18 Midfield Ben Pringle
19 Striker Tomasz Cywka
20 Defender Miles Addison
21 Defender Dean Moxey
23 Striker Conor Doyle
25 Defender Mark O'Brien
26 Striker Callum Ball
27 Striker Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid)
28 Striker Luke Moore (on loan from West Bromwich Albion)
30 Keeper Ross Atkins
34 Keeper Frank Fielding (on loan from Blackburn Rovers)
35 Midfield Jeff Hendrick
36 Defender Kallum Keane
37 Midfield Ryan Connolly
38 Midfield Medi Abalimba
39 Defender Mitchell Hanson
Norwich
Norwich are flying high at the moment. 5th in the league and fresh from a 4-1 defeat of main Rivals Ipswich, all the talk is of the Premier League - sometime within the next seven years!
Chief executive David McNally this week laid out plans for the Canaries future.
Speaking to Radio Norfolk he said;
"We are one year into the plan, the plan includes three years in the Championship, first year to settle down."
"We would then be promoted to the Premier League, allowing for immediate relegation and an immediate return."
"From that point on we would continue to play our football in the Premier League."
Maybe he was speaking tongue in cheek when he added;
"We might be fortunate enough to beat that plan."
Paul Lambert has received plenty of financial backing from the Carrow Road board on the back of last seasons promotion with seven new players arriving in the summer.
It's paying dividends as well with the Canaries flying high at the moment. And the spending doesn't end there with the board promising money will be available in January and the following summer.
Bad news for Paul Lambert is that Andrew Surman has been ruled out until at least the New Year with a knee injury.
Current Squad
No. Position Player
1 Keeper John Ruddy
2 Defender Russell Martin
3 Defender Adam Drury
4 Midfield Matthew Gill
5 Defender Michael Nelson
6 Defender Zak Whitbread
7 Midfield Andrew Crofts
8 Midfield Stephen Hughes
9 Striker Grant Holt (captain)
10 Striker Simeon Jackson
11 Midfield Andrew Surman
12 Midfield Henri Lansbury (on loan from Arsenal)
13 Keeper Declan Rudd
14 Midfield Wes Hoolahan
15 Midfield David Fox
16 Striker Chris Martin
18 Midfield Korey Smith
19 Midfield Simon Lappin
20 Defender Leon Barnett
22 Defender Elliott Ward
23 Striker Oli Johnson
24 Midfield Anthony McNamee
25 Striker Luke Daley
26 Defender Steven Smith
29 Midfield Josh Dawkin
30 Midfield Owain Tudur Jones
31 Keeper Jed Steer
33 Defender Jens Berthel Askou
36 Defender Sam Habergham
What the bookies think
Derby is favourites at 21/20 on while the Canaries are at 12/5. The draw is 13/5. Kris Commons is 4/1 as first goal scorer while Luke Moore and Alberto Bueno are at 5/1. Someone tell William Hill.
Grant Holt is at 5/1 for the Canaries.
Information for travelling fans
Driving
It’s a long cold journey from Norwich to Derby. Head for the M1 North to J16 for Derby. Take the A500/A50 to Derby. Take the A6 turn-off for Derby and the ground and away parking are signposted. About 80 miles and a 1.5 hours drive.
Parking
Away fans can park at Catalyst on London Rd opposite the Navigation pub. It's about 10-15 minutes from the ground. Don't be tempted to park at Pride Park shopping centre unless you fancy being clamped. You can also park at the Fireplace showroom just at the turn off the A52 for Pride Park.
Don’t be in a rush to leave however as it takes an age to get out of there. Another alternative is to pass the exit for Pride Park on Brian Clough Way and head for Pentagon Island... Take the first exit and turn left and after a few hundred yards you will come to The Cattle Market Car Park. It's about 10 minutes walk to the ground from here.
Drinking
There are a few pubs very close to the ground but if you come by train, the locale around the station is fairly inviting. The Crown and Cushion at the junction of London Rd always seems to be full of away supporters. The Brunswick is a must for any real ale fans and the Alexandra next door is my personal favourite. Fans tend to mingle in these pubs and as long as you're not being aggressive, the atmosphere is good.
The Waterfall opposite the station is very good as well. If you are driving, the Navigation Pub on London Rd opposite the parking area is your best bet. Around the ground there's a Frankie & Bennie's, Harvester and the Pride Park but these tend to be very busy.
Mick's Prediction
Marc Edworthy is predicting an entertaining game in the Norwich evening news while Kris Commons is predicting Grant Holt will be a handful for our defence.
With that in mind I'm predicting 2-2 for this one.
It's likely to be very cold so wrap up warm!