Match Preview - Derby County vs Swansea City Friday, 19th Feb 2010 09:35
Another tough test from a top team - can the Pride Park revival continue?
Derby County v Swansea City Coca Cola Championship Pride Park, Derby Saturday 20th February 2010 - 3:00pm
The Swans:
Current League Position: 4/24 Leading scorer: Darren Pratley 6 Manager: Paulo Sousa Kit home: White shirt/Black trim, Black shorts Kit away: Red shirt, White shorts Last Game: Plymouth 1-1 Swansea
Quotes from the manager: Sousa talking to the BBC after a late retaken penalty robbed them of victory at Home Park: "Everyone in the ground could see what happened. I have watched a replay of it since and the keeper's foot is on the line."
"Dorus did well to save to save them both and showed what he can do when he is called upon although we have not needed him for the past month or so."
"We dominated the game for long spells but we needed two or three touches on that pitch when normally we would only need one and we were not able to play the way we wanted - and pass it quickly."
Current Swans Squad: No. Position. Player. 1 Keeper Dorus de Vries 2 Defender Ashley Williams 5 Defender Alan Tate (vice-captain) 6 Midfield Ferrie Bodde 7 Midfield Leon Britton 8 Midfield Darren Pratley 9 Striker Craig Beattie 10 Midfield Andrea Orlandi 11 Striker Cedric van der Gun 12 Midfield Nathan Dyer 15 Midfield Jordi López 16 Defender Garry Monk 17 Keeper David Cornell 18 Striker Gorka Pintado 19 Striker Lee Trundle (on loan from Bristol City) 21 Defender Federico Bessone 22 Defender Àngel Rangel 23 Striker Guillem Bauzà 24 Midfield Joe Allen 25 Midfield Matthew Collins 26 Defender Albert Serrán 27 Midfield Mark Gower 28 Midfield Thomas Butler 29 Midfield Ashley Richards 30 Striker Chad Bond 32 Striker Ross Mitchell 35 Defender Daniel Sheehan 36 Striker Casey Thomas 39 Defender James Burgin 40 Striker Besian Idrizaj 42 Striker Shefki Kuqi 49 Midfield David Cotterill
The Rams:
Quotes from the manager:
Nigel Clough talking to BBC Radio Derby about Rob Hulse: "He left his bed that he's been in with a stomach upset most of the day and he got two goals." "I heard somebody say he should have a stomach upset more often! He picked up this afternoon and said, 'Well I'll give it a go, see how long I can last'."
"When the second one went in, he lasted a bit longer being on a hat-trick."
No. Position. Player. 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 19 Midfield Michael Tonge (on loan from Stoke City F.C.) 20 Striker Steve Davies 21 Defender Dean Moxey 22 Midfield Arnaud Mendy 23 Defender Mark O'Brien 24 Defender Nicky Hunt (on loan from Bolton Wanderers F.C.) 26 Midfield Lee Hendrie 27 Defender Russell Anderson 28 Defender Mitchell Hanson 33 Defender Mark Dudley 35 Striker Callum Ball 31 Defender Javan Vidal (on loan from Manchester City F.C) 25 Midfield Dave Martin (on loand from Millwall F.C.)
What the Bookies think:
Home Win: 6/4 Draw: 21/10 Away win: 6/4 First Scorer: - Rob Hulse 11/2, Shefki Kuqi 13/2
Information for travelling fans: Driving: It's nearly 200 miles to Derby from Swansea and not an easy driving route. It's M4, M5 and M40/42 to the M6 where the best route is the toll road to JT4 junction with the A38.
Take the A38 north past Burton on Trent and on reaching Derby follow the signs for the football traffic. The best route is to stay on the A38 until you reach the A61 Junction then turn right until you pick up the A52 Brian Clough Way. The ground is on the right along 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 okay 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: The Guardian's Forest supporting reporter has re-labelled us as 'play off chasing Derby' instead of 'relegation haunted'. I wouldn't go that far but I can't remember the last time we conceded three goals at home and didn't lose. I can't remember the last time we scored five goals at home. Conceding three shows that there is still some work to be done at the back. The first goal was well taken by Parkin but the second has to go down as poor defending. The third was a late consolation. Barker is looking more and more the signing that Clough hoped he would be. I would go so far as to say McFarland-esqe rather than your classic 'head or hoof to row Z' centre half. Buxton is more of the 'head or hoof' centre half however he has made a lot of progress playing alongside Barker so it may be that I was wrong about him. That said, I'd still like to see Dean Leacock back in the side one day fully fit. With Barker and Leacock at the heart of defence it might have been 5-0 or 5-1. Swansea are a real promotion chasing team and should be a stern test for the Rams. As we've shown against Forest & Newcastle however, we've nothing to fear from any team.
Mick's Team:
Bywater, Hunt, Barker, Buxton, McEveley, Green, Savage, Tonge, Pearson, Commons, Hulse.
Subs: Vidal, Deeney, Pringle, Anderson, Porter, Martin, Moxey
Mick's Prediction:
Derby 2-1 Swansea
Photo: Action Images
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