[monks data]

Championship

Dec 30, 2014 at 7.45pm UK

Derby Derby County
2-0
Leeds Leeds United

Mowatt (41' og.), Buxton (47')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Derby County vs. Leeds United

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor | 29 December 2014

Sports Mole looks ahead to Tuesday night's Championship match at the iPro Stadium as Leeds United look to complete an unlikely double against Derby County.

Leeds United can complete an unlikely double over Championship promotion hopefuls Derby County if they win at the iPro Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Whites' 2-0 victory at home over the Rams exactly a month ago was their last win and just their second in the last 15 Championship games.

Since the win at Elland Road, where Mirco Antenucci scored his first brace in English football, Leeds have picked up just one point out of a possible 12 to fall to 20th.

They are just four points above Wigan Athletic in the first relegation spot after suffering a glum 2-0 Boxing Day defeat at home to the Latics, who won their first game in six under Malky Mackay.

Neil Redfearn may wish to make changes for the trip to Derby, with Rodolph Austin, Souleymane Doukara and Steve Morison pushing for a start.

Derby will undoubtedly start as heavy favourites after they cruised past Birmingham City 4-0 on Boxing Day, ending Gary Rowett's unbeaten home record as Blues boss and picking up their first win in four games in all competitions.

The Rams currently sit fourth, but a win and dropped points for Ipswich Town against Charlton Athletic will see Steve McClaren's side end 2014 in the automatic promotion places, three points behind league leaders Bournemouth.

McClaren could go with the same XI that started against Birmingham, but Jake Buxton is available after serving his one-game ban, while Omar Mascarell will be keen for a return to the starting XI.

Derby's recent record against Leeds is extremely good. They are unbeaten in seven games at home against the Whites, winning the last five in a row and conceding just three goals in this run.

Leeds are, however, unbeaten in the last two meetings, with the November victory ending a run of 11 games without a win that included 10 straight defeats against the Rams.

Derby:

Form in Championship: WLWLDW
Form in all competitions: LWLLDW

Possible starting lineup: Grant; Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth; Hendrick, Mascarell, Hughes; Russell, Martin, Ibe

Leeds:

Recent form: LWLLDL

Possible starting lineup: Silvestri; Byram, Bellusci, Cooper, Warnock; Austin, Bianchi, Mowatt, Cook; Antenucci, Sharp

Sports Mole says: 3-1