At home it has been goals, goals and more goals for the rampant Rams. Will the trend continue against the newly relegated Pompey.
Saturday 6th November 2010 17:20
Pride Park - Derbyshire
Derby v Portsmouth - Historical
P 43 W 26 D 7 L 10 F 84 A 44
Last game at Pride Park.
11/08/07 Derby County 2 - 2 Portsmouth Oakley, Todd
Recent Form
Portsmouth 10/24 P 14 W 6 D 3 L 5 F 21 A 19
Leading scorers: Lawrence (5lg 1cp)
Derby 7/24 P 14 W 6 D 3 L 5 F 28 A 15
Leading scorers: Commons (7)
The Rams:
Nigel Clough was on Radio Derby saying how he thought the game against Pompey would be among the most difficult yet. He's right of course but hopefully Pompey are more nervous of the long trip up the M1 to Pride Park.
Injuries are starting to be a problem for Clough again and Alberto Bueno & Luke Moore are both doubtful. With Anderson & Buxton sidelined we're also short of centre half cover and Clough is considering having Miles Addison on the bench.
Miles still faces six weeks out once the screws in his foot are removed so it's debatable how sensible it is to risk him. With both Leacock & Barker one card away from a suspension however it's all hands to the pumps.
Probable Team:
Fielding
Brayford, Leacock , Barker, Moxey
Bailey, Savage
Green, Cywka, Commons
Kuqi
Subs - Deeney, O’Brien, Roberts, Pringle, Pearson, Addison
Current 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
Pompey
From relegation to near winding up in the high court, coupled with a poor start to the season. Pompey have been through the blender. With 6 of the last seven games now won and administration behind them, Pompey are looking as if they will challenge for promotion back to the Premier league this year.
Some might say that it's unfair they managed to keep most of their top class players but whatever the fairness of it they have and they are likely to be tough opposition.
Manager Steve Cotterill is worried that teams will sit back and defend against his attacking team:
"We haven't come across teams just sitting back and defending against us yet. Until we do, we haven't got to do anything differently".
Last week against Forest, Cotterill switched David Nugent and John Utaka to neutralise the threat from the Trees and it worked.
"You always have to do something within a game and there are things that you have to tweak along the way."
Clearly a manager who doesn't believe in sticking to a plan. Hopefully Clough has learned from the Millwall & Sheffield United games and has a plan B of his own.
Current Squad:
No. Position Player
1 Keeper Jamie Ashdown
2 Defender Greg Halford (on loan from Wolves)
3 Defender Carl Dickinson (on loan from Stoke City)
4 Defender Aaron Mokoena (captain)
6 Defender Hermann Hreiðarsson
7 Midfield Liam Lawrence (on loan from Stoke City*)
8 Midfield Hayden Mullins
9 Striker Danny Webber
10 Striker David Nugent
11 Midfield Michael Brown
17 Striker John Utaka
18 Striker Dave Kitson
20 Defender Joel Ward
22 Midfield Richard Hughes
24 Striker Nadir Ciftci
25 Defender Ibrahima Sonko (on loan from Stoke City)
27 Striker Nwankwo Kanu
33 Defender Ricardo Rocha
37 Keeper Darryl Flahavan
38 Defender Ellis Martin
39 Midfield Peter Gregory
What the bookies think
Derby is favourites at 11/8 while Pompey is at 21/10. The draw is also at 21/10. Kris Commons is at 5/1 while Shefki Kuqi & Luke Moore are at 6/1.
For Pompey Dave's Nugent & Kitson are at 7/1
Information for travelling fans
Driving
It’s a long way from Portsmouth to Derby. Around the M25 and 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 120 miles and a 2.5 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
I said last time that how your react to defeat is every bit as important as how you react to victory. We reacted and how against Watford. Some of the Watford fans leaving the ground were disgruntled by the poor performance of their own team and put the nature of the defeat down to that.
I hope all fans that come to Derby leave thinking that and maybe it will be a while before other people catch on to what is happening at Derby.
I think this game could be tough but I expect us to prevail or at least draw.
Derby 2-2 Portsmouth