 Tuesday, 8th Mar 2011 11:19 by Mick McDermott The Rams recent home performances have been nervous affairs, last time they hit the road they brought home all three points. Can Derby manage it again in the Boro!?
Derby County vs. Middlesbrough7:45pm Tuesday 8th March 2011 The Riverside - Middlesbrough Middlesbrough v Rams - Historical P 66 W 15 D 15 L 36 F 75 A 139
Last game at The Riverside Sat 20 Oct 2009 - Middlesbrough 2-0 Derby County
Current Form Middlesbrough - 20/24 P 34 W 10 D 7 L 17 F 42 A 52 Leading scorers: Lita (10)
Derby - 19/24 Derby P 35 W 11 D 7 L 17 F 43 A 48 Leading scorers: Bueno (4), Cywka (4)
The Rams Nigel Clough speaking to Radio Derby before the Barnsley game; “I thought we'd be 6 to 8 points ahead of where we are now." So what you are saying Nigel is that you aimed for mid table mediocrity and missed? Meanwhile we have Tom Glick saying that 5-6 Championship class players will be signed in the summer and that the club is not for sale and that Nigel is our man? Then you realise that 4 of the six are probably already here in Ward, Robinson, Duke and possibly Fielding ... And you ask who else other than Savage is leaving? Very depressing. Especially when it transpires that the emergency goalkeeper who was to see us through the season can only play until the end of March. Nigel says he knew all along and that Duke was bought on to cover the last 8 games but clearly he didn't tell the official website; "The deal lasts until the end of the season, so when Stephen is back fit it gives us some really strong competition for the number one jersey, which will be good for both of them and ultimately the team." Who also clearly didn't know the injured Bywater was off to Cardiff. The situation at DCFC would be laughable if it wasn't so depressing. It's making it more and more likely my renewal will go straight in the bin.
Possible Team: Fielding Brayford Barker Ayala Roberts Savage Green B.Davies Ward Pearson Robinson SUBS: Duke, S.Davies, Porter, Doyle, Addison, Bueno, Leacock
Current Rams Squad No. Position Player -- Keeper Michael Boulding (On loan from Hull City) 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 (club captain) 10 Striker Jamie Ward (on loan from Sheffield United) 11 Midfield Stephen Pearson 12 Striker Chris Porter 13 Keeper Saul Deeney 14 Defender Russell Anderson 16 Midfield James Bailey 17 Defender Jake Buxton 18 Midfield Ben Pringle 19 Striker Tomasz Cywka 20 Defender Miles Addison 21 Defender Daniel Ayala (on loan from Liverpool) 23 Striker Conor Doyle 24 Midfield Arnaud Mendy 25 Defender Mark O'Brien 26 Striker Callum Ball 27 Striker Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid) 28 Midfield Ben Davies 29 Midfield Jeff Hendrick 34 Keeper Frank Fielding
The Boro Ravaged by injury and struggling at the wrong end of the table - not just similar stadiums then. Thrashed 5-2 by Reading, they finished up with 17 year old Connor Ripley in nets after Jason Steele went of injured. Danny Coyne is already injured so it's possible the Boro will start with Ripley in nets however manager Tony Mowbray is looking for a replacement. It's not all gloom at the Riverside. Mowbray's team got a credible draw against high flying Forest - and it could have been better if not for a 90th minute equalizer; "Disappointment weighs heavier than the thought of how well we competed tonight". Mowbray went on to say; "Billy Davies said we deserved to win the game, and he thought the goal might have been offside." Boro seem to be about one game ahead of us and need the point as much as we do. They can score - it's keeping them out that’s the problem. Hopefully Nigel will realise this and have some attacking options.
Boro Squad No. Position Player 2 Defender Justin Hoyte 3 Defender Maximilian Haas 4 Defender Matthew Bates (club captain) 5 Midfield Merouane Zemmama 6 Defender Stephen McManus 7 Striker Scott McDonald 8 Midfield Kevin Thomson 9 Striker Kris Boyd 10 Midfield Nicky Bailey 11 Striker Tarmo Kink 12 Defender Andrew Davies (on loan from Stoke City) 14 Midfield Willo Flood 15 Striker Leroy Lita 17 Midfield Barry Robson 19 Midfield Andrew Halliday 20 Midfield Julio Arca 21 Keeper Danny Coyne 22 Striker Luke Williams 23 Defender Jonathan Grounds 24 Defender Seb Hines 25 Midfield Rhys Williams 26 Defender Andrew Taylor 27 Defender Joe Bennett 28 Striker Jonathan Franks 29 Defender Tony McMahon 30 Keeper Jason Steele 32 Striker Marvin Emnes 33 Midfield Richard Smallwood 35 Midfield Bruno Pilatos 36 Midfield Mickaël Tavares (on loan from Hamburger SV) 38 Midfield Cameron Park 39 Keeper Connor Ripley
What the bookies think Boro are 10/11 favourites while we are at 7/2 the draw is 21/10. Leyroy Lita is at 9/2 while Theo Robinson is at 7/1. Alberto Bueno our top scorer is at 15/2.
Information for travelling fans Driving Derby to Middlesbrough is 136 miles. The best route South is the M1 North then the M18, A1(M) and A66 into Middlesbrough. It's signposted and easy to find. Parking Plenty of parking at various car parks on the wasteland surrounding the familiar looking Riverside - takes an age to get out of them though. Some street parking in the nearby area but watch out - there are some resident only areas. Drinking Doctor Browns on Corporation Rd is recommended but in honesty the Boro fans are a friendly lot and you can drink anywhere in the town as long as you don't behave like a pillock. Try the Boro delicacy the Parma with Chips - provided your arteries can stand it!
Mick's Prediction: It's usually cold and miserable and it’s a long way. And we never seem to win there... 0-1 Rams. Ayala If I keep saying it maybe it will happen!
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