As Derby head into the Lion’s Den for the FA Cup, will it be Rams to the slaughter or wolves in sheeps clothing?

 
The Lions:

Current League Position: 7/24 – League 1
Leading scorer: Harris 6lg 5cp
Manager: Kenny Jackett
Kit home: Blue shirt, White flash/Blue shorts
Kit away: Red & Black stripes /Black shorts
Last game: Millwall 2-0 Bristol Rovers
 
Quotes from the manager:
 
Kenny Jackett from the official Millwall website on why he thinks the Millwall fans could be the key to this game;
 
"The FA Cup seems hold a special place in the affections of our fans, which possibly stems from the run to the Final in 2004. I'm sure they will turn out in their numbers and create a great atmosphere at The Den on Saturday, which hopefully will inspire out players".
 
"This is a game we are all very much looking forward to, and certainly we are hoping for a win to progress to the next stage of the competition."

Lions Squad:

No. - Position - Player
1 KEEPER David Forde
2 DEFENDER Alan Dunne
3 DEFENDER Andrew Frampton
4 MIDFIELD Adam Bolder
5 DEFENDER Paul Robinson
6 DEFENDER Zak Whitbread
7 MIDFIELD Danny Schofield
8 STRIKER Gary Alexander
9 STRIKER Neil Harris
10 STRIKER Lewis Grabban
11 MIDFIELD Dave Martin
12 MIDFIELD Chris Hackett
13 KEEPER John Sullivan
14 DEFENDER Danny Senda
15 DEFENDER Tony Craig
16 DEFENDER Scott Barron
17 MIDFIELD James Henry (On loan from Reading)
18 DEFENDER Darren Ward (On loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
19 STRIKER Ashley Grimes
20 STRIKER Steve Morison
21 DEFENDER Jack Smith
22 MIDFIELD Ali Fuseini
23 STRIKER Jason Price
24 MIDFIELD Marc Laird
26 MIDFIELD Nadjim Abdou
27 DEFENDER Pat O'Connor
30 DEFENDER Marcus Bignot
31 STRIKER Kiernan Hughes-Mason
32 DEFENDER Omar Beckles
34 STRIKER John Marquis
36 DEFENDER Danny Fitzsimons

The Rams:
 
Quotes from the manager:
 
Derby boss Nigel Clough on the BBC about Rams skipper Robbie Savage:
 
"For some reason - I don't understand it - he gets booed at every single ground we come to. I have never quite figured that out".
 
"I can understand that at ex-clubs - and he's had a few of them - but I can't understand sometimes this reputation that goes before him".
 
"I don't quite get it because I think football supporters should recognise sometimes what an honest and whole-hearted player he is".

Current Rams Squad:
 
1 Keeper Stephen Bywater
2 Defender Paul Connolly
3 Defender James McEveley
4 Midfield Paul Green
5 Defender Miles Addison (vice-captain)
6 Defender Dean Leacock
7 Midfield Lee Croft
8 Midfield Robbie Savage (captain)
9 Striker Rob Hulse
10 Midfield Kris Commons
11 Midfield Gary Teale
12 Striker Chris Porter
13 Keeper Saul Deeney
14 Defender Shaun Barker
16 Midfield Stephen Pearson
17 Defender Jake Buxton
18 Midfield Ben Pringle
20 Striker Steve Davies
21 Midfield Dean Moxey
22 Midfield Arnaud Mendy
23 Defender Mark O'Brien
24 Midfield Jake Livermore (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
25 Striker Paul Dickov (on loan from Leicester City)
26 Midfield Lee Hendrie
27 Defender Fredrik Stoor (on loan from Fulham)
28 Defender Mitchell Hanson
32 Striker D. J. Campbell (on loan from Leicester City)
34 Keeper Ross Atkins
 
What the Bookies think:
 
Home Win: 7/5
Draw: 23/10
Away win: 19/10
 
First Scorer: Stephen Morison 11/2, Rob Hulse, Chris Porter 6/1
 

Information for travelling fans:
 
Driving: It’s about 140 miles to Millwall and the route is fairly straightforward. Take the M1 south until the Junction with the M25. Go clockwise on the M25 (Dartford) to J2 and then follow the A2 into London (follow signs City/Westminster).

This goes straight past the ground (on the Old Kent Road) and although longer than the North Circular route, should be quicker. Keep a look out for New Cross Gate Tube and the ground is about a mile further on.
 
Parking: Poor planning as there are few car parks in the area. There’s some street parking to be had just after the ground, it can be a pain. You’re better off getting the train to South Bermondsey.
 
Drinking: You’d have to be insane to drink anywhere near the stadium given Millwall’s reputation – especially in colours. Footballgroundguide.com recommends drinking around the London Bridge area and getting the train in. I would go with that.
 
Mick’s Prediction:
 
The FA Cup is once again upon us and we face the traditional banana skin tie – this time at Millwall. Could be worse, it could have been Staines!
 
Two poor home defeats against supposedly average championship sides followed by a battling 0-0 against runaway leaders Newcastle – what are we to make of Nigel Clough’s side?
 
The FA Cup this year is not a priority and although it would be great to have another cup run, these games should be used to sort out some of the problems with the team.
 
It seems that the absence of the suspended Savage will result in Paul Green being played in central midfield.

Clough says in the DET;
 
"We have to remember that Paul Green's real position is central midfield and though he's doing a job for us out on the right at the moment, ideally he would be in the centre."
 
We fans remember it well Nigel. It seems it’s you who doesn’t.

The DET also has Nigel eulogising Robbie Savage – clearly he’s seeing a different player than most of us supporters are. Savage is a luxury player for teams that have combatative ball winning and distributing midfielders – not a lynchpin of the team.

Loan signing Lee Johnson looks likely to play some part in the game as the midfielder has been brought in to cover, suspension, injury and loan players leaving the Rams squad.

He also describes Croft & Teale as wide men – wide of the mark is the only description I can think of. They have played so poorly and provided so little that Clough’s persistence with them seems to be sheer pig-headedness.
 
Mick's Team:

Bywater, Moxey, Addison, Buxton, Connolly, Commons, Pearson, Hendrie, Green, Davies, Porter - Subs: Deeney, Hulse, D.J, Pringle, Croft, Teale, Johnson.

Match Prediction:

I expect this to end in a draw for some reason.

Photo: Action Images

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