Saturday marks the Rams final home game of the season and Robbie’s final home game of his career. With safety assured, hopefully the team will give Derby fans the match they deserve after another stressful season.

Derby County vs. Bristol City

Saturday 23rd April 2011

Pride Park - Derby

P 46 W 28 D 9 L 9 F 92 A 46

Last game at Pride Park

Saturday 4th April 2009 / Derby 1 - 1 Burnley; Connolly

Current Form

Bristol City - 16/24 P 44 W 15 D 15 L 14 F 59 A 65

Leading scorers - Pitman (12)

Derby - 19/24 Derby P 42 W 13 D 10 L 21 F 57 A 67

Leading scorers - Bueno, Cywka, Davies, Moore, Savage (4)

The Rams

Safe from relegation for another year. The Rams have staggered over the finish line as their competitors have all fallen over - we'll be playing in the Championship next season.

The same is true of Bristol City so this game is a non event. Will the team put on a show for Robbie Savage's last home game or are they already on holiday?

Personally, I will be glad to see the back of Savage and all of the media hype surrounding him. What we've needed in midfield for the last few years has been a hardworking winner of the ball who can pass and who can break up the opposition play. This Savage has not been.

He's put the effort in on occasions but too often he's been found wanting.

At his best in a good team he's been brilliant at winding up the opposition and breaking up their play - he's only done that fitfully for us.

That's my opinion and it isn't one shared by Nigel Clough. Speaking to the BBC;

"I hope he's remembered more for his dedication as a professional over 20 years than for some of the pantomime stuff."

"He wasn't the most popular guy two years ago and he had to convince the spectators he was worthy of the shirt." 

"I think he's done that tremendously and performed at a consistently high standard for us." 

"He's been a great influence, despite not having the legs he used to have."

Clough showing that either he's selective in which spectators he speaks to - or that he simply doesn't listen to fans.

Goodbye Robbie. I hope you enjoy your retirement.

Likely Rams Line-up

Jones

Brayford Ayala Anderson Roberts

Pearson Savage Bailey S.Davies

Robinson Bueno

Substitutes: Atkins, Anderson, Addison, Davies (B), Hendrick, Doyle, Ball

Current Rams Squad

No.    Position    Player

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

33    Keeper        Brad Jones

Bristol City

If you look at the fact that the Robins haven't won in the last five games, you'd be forgiven for thinking that already seem to be on holiday.

Looking at the results however and you see that some of those games have been high scoring including a 3-2 reverse against Forest and another against the Blades.

They've scored 2 goals in 3 of those five games.

Former Ram Jon Stead felt they should have got something from the game, speaking to the Bristol Evening Post;

"We haven't won any of the last five games and we know it is not good enough. At the moment, it feels as though we are a nearly team." 

"We have let in three soft goals and keeping clean sheets has become a problem for us. I wouldn't put it down to the lads at the back, because we have not been tight enough as a unit."

Manager Keith Millen is urging his players to finish the season on a high for the outgoing chair Steve Landsdown; 

"Let's win them both for the chairman." 

"He has had a great spell in charge, and everyone associated with the club wants to give him a great send off before he leaves his post as chairman. I've spoken to the players about it and I can tell you it is a powerful motivating force in our dressing room."

Current Bristol Squad

No.        Position    Player

1        Keeper        David James

2        Defender    Nicky Hunt

3        Defender    Jamie McAllister

4        Defender    Liam Fontaine

5        Defender    Damion Stewart

6        Defender    Louis Carey (captain)

7        Midfield    Marvin Elliott

8        Midfield    Lee Johnson

9        Striker        David Clarkson

10        Striker        Nicky Maynard

11        Midfield    Martyn Woolford

12        Keeper        Dean Gerken

14        Midfield    Cole Skuse

18        Defender    James Wilson

19        Defender    Christian Ribeiro

20        Midfield    Jamal Campbell-Ryce

21        Defender    Kalifa Cissé

22        Defender    Lewin Nyatanga

23        Defender    Joe Edwards

24        Striker        Marlon Jackson

25        Defender    Danny Ball

27        Midfield    Albert Adomah

28        Defender    Jordan Spence (on loan from West Ham United)

29        Midfield    Patrick Hoban

30        Striker        Jon Stead

31        Midfield    Jimmy Keohane

34        Striker        Brett Pitman

What the Bookies think

The Rams are 5/4 favourites while the Robins are at 21/10. The draw is at 12/5.

Theo Robinson and Steve Davies are both at 11/2 while our captain and joint leading scorer is at 11/1 for his final game at Pride Park.

Brett Pitman is at 13/2 for the visitors while Jon Stead is at 7/1.

Information for travelling fans

Driving

Bristol to Derby is a fair old hike for a nothing game. Take the M5 North to the M6 then take the A38 into Derby. Follow the signs as the ground and away parking are signposted. 

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

With no pressure on, the team should be able to play at their best. Both sides are defensively frail so on paper at least it looks like a high scoring game.

A 0-0 draw I reckon. Or a late Savage winner!

Rams 0-0 Bristol City

Photo: Action Images

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