MX23RW : Wednesday, November 27 00:16:40| >> :120:53498:53498:
[monks data]
Derby logo
Championship
Apr 26, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Watford logo

4-2

Hendrick (28', 81'), Forsyth (60'), Martin (86')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Deeney (5'), Ranegie (70')

Preview: Derby County vs. Watford

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship meeting between Derby County and Watford at the iPro Stadium.

Derby County go into Saturday's match at home to Watford knowing that a draw would be enough to secure third place in the Championship this season.

The Rams saw automatic promotion become a mathematical impossibility on Monday, but they still lead fourth-placed Queens Park Rangers by five points, while their superior goal difference gives them an edge should they finish level.

Finishing third would hand Steve McClaren's side the favourable draw in the playoffs, although there is uncertainty who they will face, with six teams still in with a shot of clinching the final spot.

One point from their final two matches is all they require for that, but McClaren will want to ensure that his side are the form team going into the playoffs with back-to-back wins to end the season.

They have already won four in a row going into Saturday's match and have generally been in superb form since McClaren took over at the iPro Stadium.

The Rams have lost just one of their 10 league matches at home since New Year's Day and have conceded just three goals in their last eight.

McClaren could be tempted to make changes to his side in order to keep players fresh for the playoffs, but he will definitely be without Shaun Barker and Paul Coutts.

Watford, meanwhile, are still mathematically in with a shout of the playoffs themselves, although with five teams better placed than them to overhaul Reading at such a late stage of the season, Giuseppe Sannino is unlikely to be entertaining the idea of a push for the top six.

Instead, he will have his sights set on securing a top-half finish and getting things ready for a more consistent playoff charge next season.

Victory could lift them above Bournemouth in the table due to their superior goal difference, although they will need to bounce back from Easter Monday's 2-1 defeat to QPR.

That result ended a six-match unbeaten streak for the Hornets, although only half of those matches ended in victories, with the other three finishing all square.

The team's away form is likely to be high on Sannino's list of priorities for next season with just one win in their last 17 games on the road in all competitions, and just four away league wins all season.

He may also be looking at new recruits over the summer, so the final two games will be a chance for his fully fit squad to prove to him that they should stay at the club.

Recent form

Derby: WLWWWW

Watford: WDWDWL

Possible starting lineups

Derby: Grant; Wisdom, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth; Hendrick, Thorne, Bryson; Bamford, Martin, Russell

Watford: Almunia; Cassetti, Angella, Ekstrand; Pudil, McGugan, Battocchio, Tozser, Riera; Deeney, Ranegie

Sports Mole says: 2-1


ID:151621: cacheID:151621:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4740:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manager of Derby County Steve McClaren looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Leeds United at Pride Park Stadium on October 05, 2013
Read Next:
Derby take duo on trial
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1711422491535
2Burnley179622161533
3Sunderland1796226121433
4Leeds UnitedLeeds1695228121632
5Watford179262624229
6Middlesbrough1683529191027
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom176921811727
8Millwall166641914524
9Norwich CityNorwich175753125622
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
11Bristol City175752021-122
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds176472026-622
13Stoke CityStoke175661920-121
14Derby CountyDerby165562020020
15Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry174582225-317
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd174581927-817
19Preston North EndPreston173861624-817
20Plymouth ArgylePlymouth174581834-1617
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City173681623-715
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!