The Rams run came to a grinding halt last week but Nigel Clough is determined to begin another when the Hornets buzz into Pride Park.

Derby County vs. Watford

Saturday 30th October 2010 15:00

Pride Park - Derby

Derby v Watford - Historical:

P 15 W 7 D 5 L 3 F 26 A 17

Last game at Pride Park:

6/03/10 Derby County 2 - 0 Watford    Tonge, Porter

Recent Form:

Watford -  5/24  P 13 W 6 D 3 L 4 F 17 A 20

Leading scorers: Graham (6lg 2cp), Sordell (6lg 1cp)

Derby -    12/24  P 13 W 5 D 3 L 5 F 24 A 11

Leading scorers:  Commons (7)

The Rams:

As disappointing as it was to lose at Millwall, at least it means that people will start being realistic about the Rams chances of promotion.

Some fans were getting decidedly unrealistic and even I was planning my trip to the 2013 European Cup final!

It seems that on a given day, any team in this league is capable of beating any other. That was pretty much Nigel Clough's take on it on an in an interview with Radio Derby. He's right the results do seem up and down. Watford for example thrashed Millwall and lost 2-0 at home to Scunthorpe in their last home game.

Nigel Clough thinks he knows how Millwall beat us. Speaking to the Derby Telegraph he said;

"Millwall closed us down and stopped us playing. It was quite similar to the Sheffield United game earlier this season,"

"Every time Alberto Bueno and Kris Commons did get the ball there were two or three Millwall players straight round them."

Hopefully he's learned that lesson. He went on;

"We needed Shefki Kuqi to get hold of the ball a bit better, Paul Green to be better on the ball than he was because he gave it away too much, and Robbie Savage and James Bailey to be better on the ball."

We also need a plan B Nigel for when the first one doesn't work. It's fairly obvious to the fans that sometimes the plan doesn't work - and that the team doesn't have a back-up.

This isn't a post-defeat rant - I like the way we've been playing football and when it goes well it's a joy to watch - but we do need to have a back-up if teams come to stifle our creative play.

Russell Anderson is out injured for this one although Stephen Pearson may make the bench. Miles Addison's recover is also going well and he may make an impact later in the season. Further good news is that Luke Moore's loan has been extended for a month though Ryan Noble has gone back to Sunderland injured.

Probable Team:

Fielding

Green, Brayford, Barker, Moxey

Bailey, Savage

Bueno, Cywka, Commons

Kuqi

Subs - Deeney, O’Brien, Roberts, Moore, Pringle, Pearson

No.  Position.  Player 

1    Keeper         Stephen Bywater

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

9    Striker     Shefki Kuqi (on loan from Swansea City)

10    Midfield     Kris Commons

11    Midfield     Stephen Pearson

12    Striker     Chris Porter

13    Keeper         Saul Deeney

14    Defender     Russell Anderson

15    Midfield     David Martin

16    Midfield     James Bailey

17    Defender     Jake Buxton

18    Midfield     Ben Pringle

19    Striker     Tomasz Cywka

20    Defender     Miles Addison

21    Defender     Dean Moxey

23    Striker     Conor Doyle

25    Defender     Mark O'Brien

26    Striker     Callum Ball

27    Striker     Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid)

28    Striker     Luke Moore (on loan from West Bromwich Albion)

30    Keeper         Ross Atkins

34    Keeper         Frank Fielding (on loan from Blackburn Rovers)

35    Midfield     Jeff Hendrick

36    Defender     Kallum Keane

37    Midfield     Ryan Connolly

38    Midfield     Medi Abalimba

39    Defender     Mitchell Hanson

Watford

Malky Mackay was not impressed with the home defeat by Scunthorpe. Speaking to the Watford Observer he said;

I was disappointed that we seemed to be second best with a lot that went on,”

Mackay criticized the Referee but did not use that as an excuse - but as with Nigel Clough and Millwall it appeared Scunthorpe had done their homework.

“Obviously goals change games and if we had got one earlier on then Scunthorpe have to come out a little bit more and attack. Fair credit to them, they stuck to their game plan and slowed the game down."

Watford have been on a wobble recently, losing to Swansea and Portsmouth as well as Scunthorpe - all following the 6-1 trouncing of Millwall.

Mackay refused to criticize the attitude of his player;

“I would take them into the trenches with me every day because they have been nothing sort of magnificent this season, they are very honest and give everything they have got. Today we were just that half a yard off.” 

The good news for Mackay is that ex-ram Danny Graham and his strike partner Marvin Sordell should be fit for the game. Both left the field injured against Scunthorpe but neither was badly hurt.

Current Squad:

No.      Position      Player

1    Keeper         Scott Loach    

2    Defender     Lee Hodson    

3    Defender     Andrew Taylor (on loan from Middlesbrough)   

4    Midfield     John Eustace (captain)   

5    Defender     Martin Taylor    

6    Defender     Adrian Mariappa (vice-captain)   

7    Midfield     Don Cowie    

8    Midfield     Josh Walker    

9    Striker     Troy Deeney    

10    Striker     Danny Graham    

11    Striker     Will Buckley    

12    Defender     Lloyd Doyley    

13    Keeper         Rene Gilmartin    

14    Midfield     Ross Jenkins    

15    Midfield     Stephen McGinn    

16    Midfield     Michael Bryan    

17    Defender     Dale Bennett    

18    Midfield     Jordon Mutch (on loan from Birmingham City)   

20    Striker     Marvin Sordell    

21    Defender     Rob Kiernan    

23    Midfield     Piero Mingoia    

24    Midfield     Matthew Whichelow    

25    Defender     Eddie Oshodi    

27    Striker     Gavin Massey    

28    Defender     Tom Aldred    

29    Defender     Adam Thompson    

30    Keeper         Jonathan Bond    

What the bookies think:

Derby are favourites at 13/20 on while the Hornets are at 21/10. The draw is 11/5. Kris Commons is at 5/1 while Shefki Kuqi & Luke Moore are at 6/1.

For Watford Danny Graham & Marvin Sordell are at 7/1. Given that Danny Graham never scored for us I'd revise those odds down if I were a bookie.

Information for travelling fans:

Driving

It’s M1 North to J16 for Derby. Take the A500/A50 to Derby. Take the A6 turn-off for Derby and the ground and away parking are signposted. About 120 miles and a 2.5 hours drive.

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:

How your react to defeat is every bit as important as how you react to victory. As long as Nigel and the team learn the lesson that you don't always get your own way and sometimes have to adapt, we can get back to winning ways. If instead they stubbornly carry on with something that doesn't work ... well it doesn't work!

Derby 2-2 Watford

Photo: Action Images

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