Aiming to collect their first second-tier points of 2025, relegation-threatened Derby County will welcome Sheffield United to Pride Park for a Championship battle on Saturday afternoon.
The Rams have slipped towards the lower reaches of the division following a string of defeats in January, whereas the Blades are targeting an immediate return to the Premier League.
Match preview
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Since the Boxing Day success over Midlands counterparts West Bromwich Albion, Derby County supporters have seen their side's form fall off a cliff in the Championship, with Saturday's hosts enduring a six-game losing streak in the second tier, intensifying worries of relegation to League One.
The latest of those worrying defeats arrived at the South Wales base of Cardiff City last Saturday afternoon, when goals from Callum Robinson and Anwar El-Ghazi won the day for the Bluebirds, despite a maiden Rams goal for midfielder Lars-Jorgen Salvesen, who recently joined from Viking in Norway.
Whilst Paul Warne has spoken glowingly of the 28-year-old's immediate impact on the dressing room in the East Midlands, there is a strong feeling that Derby require at least three more signings before the conclusion of the winter transfer window on February, especially with Eiran Cashin set to join Brighton & Hove Albion.
Pointless in the second tier throughout the month of January, the Rams have dropped down to 22nd place in the Championship standings ahead of this weekend's hosting of a promotion contender, two points behind League One champions Portsmouth in the relative comfort of 21st spot.
Winning just one of their 15 league outings so far, Warne's men have been highly reliant on picking up points at Pride Park to stay afloat in the race for survival, with both of Derby's triumphs since early November arriving in front of their passionate home faithful.
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Recently signing a contract extension until the summer of 2028 at Bramall Lane, Sheffield United head coach Chris Wilder is determined to achieve his third promotion at the Yorkshire club, with this weekend's visitors battling a two-point deduction to feature in the top-two race.
That being said, the Blades suffered their heaviest defeat of the 2024-25 campaign to date last Friday night, when a Hull City side boosted by a number of new signings produced a shock result on the road, with Matt Crooks, Matty Jacob and Bladesman Harrison Burrows all finding the net for the Tigers.
Following only their second loss at Bramall Lane across 14 second-tier home clashes, Sheffield United missed the chance to leapfrog Leeds United at the very summit of the Championship table, meaning that Wilder's side sit in second, two points behind Daniel Farke's men.
Leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of a place in the Premier League next season, the Blades have recruited four players from top-flight outfits so far during the winter trading point, with Leicester City's Tom Cannon and Southampton star Ben Brereton Diaz arguably the pick of the quartet.
Since the 2-1 defeat at promotion rivals Sunderland on New Year's Day, Sheffield United have been mightily impressive on their Championship travels, securing back-to-back 2-1 victories at Watford and Swansea City, with only Burnley (31) bettering the Blades' 28 points on the road so far.
Team News
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Despite intense transfer speculation, Derby boss Warne expects Brighton-bound Cashin to join Craig Forsyth in defence on Saturday afternoon.
With Nat Phillips (groin) and Kane Wilson (hamstring) on the sidelines for the hosts, recent arrival Matt Clarke could be in line for a starting berth at Pride Park.
The Rams' options in attack are set to be restricted by the absence of Dajaune Brown, who could be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign due to a hamstring issue picked up in January.
Sheffield United have a number of key players in the medical room ahead of this weekend, with Kieffer Moore (hernia) and Ollie Arblaster (knee) unavailable.
Collecting his 10th yellow card of the campaign at Swansea last month, Gustavo Hamer will serve the final game of his two-match suspension at Pride Park.
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Zetterstrom; Forsyth, Clarke, Cashin; Nyambe, Goudmijn, Adams, Harness; Salvesen, Mendez-Laing, Yates
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Cooper; Clarke, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Burrows; Peck, De Souza Costa, Brooks, O'Hare, Diaz; Cannon
We say: Derby County 0-1 Sheffield United
Looking to avoid a seventh straight defeat in the Championship, Derby will be dreading the arrival of promotion favourites Sheffield United at Pride Park this weekend.
The Blades are without a number of first-team stars but should have more than enough quality to get over the line to three points in the East Midlands.
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Carter White
