Christmas is here and Derby welcome Doncaster for the Boxing day celebrations. May the Rams stuff them like we did our Christmas Turkey!

  15:00 Boxing Day 2010  

Pride Park Stadium - Derby

Derby v Doncaster - Historical

P 8 W 5 D 1 L 2 F 13 A 5

Last game at Pride Park:

23/1/2010 Derby 1-0 Doncaster;  McEveley

Recent Form:

Derby:     9/24  Derby P 22 W 9 D 3 L 10 F 35 A 29

Leading scorers:  Commons (12)

Doncaster: 11/24 P 21 W 8 D 6 L 7 F 33 A 35 

Leading scorers: Hayter & Sharp (7)

The Rams:

Another game where we've conceded 2 goals - another defeat. It's been a bleak few weeks for the Rams...

Hang on - that was the start of last week's preview. Sadly, it's still true and the habit of conceding soft goals is now seeing us slip down the league.

Are we in a crisis yet?

Nigel Clough doesn’t think so, as he spoke to the official site about the busy period ahead:

"If you throw the Cup game at Crawley into the mix as well (on 10th January) the next five games will go a long way to shaping the next three months of our season," he said. 12 points are at stake and a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup too, so the challenge is there to get as many points as possible and progress in the cup.” 

"It is a very important time and with the games so close together it is a real chance to get points on the board. We've not set a target; we just want to stop our run of defeats at the moment.” 

"We're pleased to be at home on Boxing Day, and Doncaster is one of those sides who go out and play the same way regardless of who they are playing. They are a difficult side to play against and we've had two good wins in our last two games against them in the cup and the league so we know we are capable of beating them."

There's a belief among the Ram Internet fraternity that posters (and therefore fans) come in two types, Blind Faithers or Wrist Slashers.

The wrist slashers are out in force at the moment as they fall into either the 'blame the board' or 'blame the manager' camps.

The 'blame the board' Camp point to a perceived lack of investment in the squad and a reliance on loans, alternatively the 'blame the manager' Camp suggest Clough has favourites, is obstinate and makes bizarre team selections.

Which is right?

Well probably both & neither.

The board have set their stall out in saying the club has to pay for itself. We can't rely on loans and money from the owners - at least not until the debt is gone and the club are on the Premier League. Until then, any investment will be minimum.

It's up to the manager to get the best out of the team and to finance any new blood with savings on the old blood - That's how most companies work these days - why should football be different?

Clough works with the players every day. He doesn't just see the 90 minutes on the pitch and he knows more about the players than we do. It'd be stupid of him to pick a player who underperforms for petulant reasons, as it would be likely to lose him his job.

That said - he is new to league management. Some of the successful strategies that work for Burton Albion are not likely work at Derby. He will learn that as he goes on and hopefully he will now realise that Luke Moore despite a valiant work rate, is not suited for the target man role.

If we can get a player to work that role (Porter anyone?) it will bring the three forward midfielders into the game and we might return to our better form.

Alternatively, we could go 4-4-2 with Commons just behind Moore.

Positive news is that Bailey is fit again after illness and ready to return to the starting line-up while Pearson and Roberts may miss with injury.

Miles Addison and Steve Davies are finally up and running in full training and should be on the bench for the festive run of matches.

Will both Miles and Steve prove to be like new signings for the Rams and inject some spark into the squad or will it prove to be another short cameo in their injury-prone careers?

Here’s hoping it’s the former.

Mick’s Team:

Bywater

Brayford, Barker, Leacock, Moxey

Bailey, Savage

Bueno, Green, Commons

Porter

Substitutes - Addison, Davies, Pringle, Cywka, Moore, Deeney, 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

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

35    Midfield     Jeff Hendrick

36    Defender     Kallum Keane

37    Midfield     Ryan Connolly

38    Midfield     Medi Abalimba

39    Defender     Mitchell Hanson

Doncaster

Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll was full of sympathy for Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray after their late winner:

"You have to feel a bit sorry for them for losing like that because they probably didn't deserve it on the night.

Having said that their keeper Jason Steele made a fantastic save only moments before we scored and you do need a bit of luck to win in this division.

It looked a bit ominous when we conceded after only four minutes and you wonder then whether the wheels might come off. But we always looked a threat and that was pleasing."

Sounds a bit like us against Reading. Sean O'Driscoll himself may not be at the game. He's wanted by Sheffield United however Doncaster Chairman John Ryan does not expect to lose his manager:

"I've been loyal to Sean over many years and he has been loyal to me and I expect it to stay just the same, United have got the fan base, they have got the stadium but we have got the team and that can count for a lot."

He goes to sound as if he's expecting O'Driscoll to go however:

"If he went to Sheffield United he would be their greatest manager but whether they would give him the time is one thing, and he might end up relegating Sheffield United because it takes time for his system to work,"

The Rovers squad should include Billy Sharp, who seems to have become a thorn in our sides in recent seasons.

Current Donny Squad:

No.  Position Player

1  Keeper Neil Sullivan

2  Defender James O'Connor

3  Defender George Friend

4  Defender Shelton Martis

5  Defender Wayne Thomas

6  Defender James Chambers

7  Midfield Martin Woods

8  Midfield Brian Stock (captain)

9  Striker Steve Brooker

10  Striker Billy Sharp

11  Defender Adam Lockwood (vice captain)

12  Striker James Hayter

15  Midfield Mark Wilson

16  Midfield John Oster

18  Midfield Simon Gillett

19  Striker David Healy (on loan from Sunderland)

20  Defender Joseph Mills (on loan from Southampton)

21  Defender Sam Hird

22  Midfield Dean Shiels

23  Defender Byron Webster

24  Defender Mustapha Dumbuya

25  Defender Dênnis Souza

26  Midfield James Coppinger

29  Striker Waide Fairhurst

31  Midfield Simon Whaley

33  Keeper Gary Woods

What the bookies think:

Derby are favourites at 11/5 on while Rovers are at 13/5. The draw is 11/5. Kris Commons is 5/1 as first goal scorer, while Luke Moore and Alberto Bueno are at 6/1.

James Hayter & Billy Sharp are both at 13/2 for Rovers.

Information for travelling fans:

Driving

It’s a short hop from Doncaster to Derby. Take the M18to the M1 South 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 70 miles and an 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:

We don't seem to do well on Boxing Day. The last home win I can remember is 1997 against Newcastle though we did scrape a draw v Luton and won away at Wigan.

We don't seem to do that well against Doncaster either - so with both of these facts in mind I am predicting an easy victory - over-confidence or Christmas Sherry?

You decide.

Rams 3-0 Doncaster

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls