The Rams’ hot and cold season has finally wound down to the end point which has seemed likely for quite some time; a fifth place finish in the Championship, with home and away finals against fourth placed Hull City.

With the home leg at the iPro on Saturday at lunchtime and the second leg in Hull on Tuesday evening, the Rams will go into Saturday’s match with some mixed feelings.

The last three league matches have brought only two draws and a defeat, so Derby do not have great momentum going for them. Chris Martin looks to be going through another ineffective spell, appearing isolated; he has not scored in his last six matches. Indeed, his last goal was against Hull in early April.

In total the Rams have scored just two goals in those last three games, from Darren Bent and Andreas Weimann; so the regular scorers could all be said to have taken a bit of a break.

Of course, the really bad news for the Rams is another serious injury: George Thorne becomes the Rams’ fourth long term injury of the season, following Will Hughes, Craig Bryson and Craig Forsyth.

Just as the Rams’ midfield seemed to be regaining some cohesion, Thorne’s broken leg puts him out of action until the early part of next season. Certainly, replacing George will be difficult, but the Rams should be able to field a well balanced midfield despite this latest setback.

Hull also have their issues. After looking like a very strong side in the first two-thirds of the season, Hull have looked listless in the last third. Their last fifteen league matches have seen them win six, draw five and lose four. Its not relegation form, but they are vulnerable.

Hull have been very beatable when they have played decent sides; also when they have played Bolton. They are scoring consistently but their cast iron defence from earlier in the season has deserted them somewhat, as they have been conceding goals consistently.

The Rams, of course, have beaten Hull twice in the league this season, scoring six goals and conceding none. Also, as I wrote a couple of weeks ago, history in the play-offs, there is no evidence to show that in matches between the fourth and fifth placed teams, the one playing away first has any advantage.

It seems to me that psychologically the Rams, despite so-so recent form will go into the playoffs with the advantage. We should be looking to play the winner of Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday — who I believe will almost certainly be Brighton — at Wembley in the final.

Less than a week from now, we will know.

COYR!!

Photo: Action Images

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