MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 20:45:20| >> :600:386706:386706:
[monks data]
Rotherham logo
Championship
Feb 17, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Derby logo

3-3

Green (35'), Smallwood (49'), Derbyshire (54')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Ince (36', 64'), Bent (83')

Preview: Rotherham United vs. Derby County

Sports Mole runs the rule over Tuesday night's Championship match as improving Rotherham United host high-flying Derby County.

Derby County will want to put their FA Cup exit quickly behind them by beating Rotherham United on Tuesday night to possibly go top of the Championship after 31 games.

The Rams missed out on a quarter-final place by going down 2-1 at home to Reading on Saturday, with Stephen Warnock sent off in the first half for two bookable offences.

It was a nightmare debut for the left-back, who will have to sit this one out, but there was another goal for Darren Bent, making it five in six games for the Aston Villa loanee.

Bent is yet to start a game in the league, but should get the nod to face the Millers with top scorer Chris Martin facing two weeks on the sidelines.

Rams boss Steve McClaren has several other selection issues, with Thomas Ince available again after being cup-tied for Reading's visit, while George Thorne is also pushing for a return after a lengthy spell out.

Derby will go top of the pile if they win at the New York Stadium and Middlesbrough fail to win at Birmingham City in matchday 31's final game on Wednesday.

To do so, they will have to end Rotherham's strong recent home record. The Millers are chasing a third straight home win for the first time this season following successes over Bolton Wanderers and Ipswich Town.

Steve Evans's side have also had a longer rest having not played at the weekend and they will be keen to get back to winning ways after suffering a late defeat at Blackburn Rovers a week ago.

Following this weekend's results, Rotherham are still three clear of the bottom three in 20th and will be keen to extend that to six with another scalp on home turf.

Matt Derbyshire scored their only goal at Ewood Park last week to make it three goals in four games and he should continue up front, especially with Conor Sammon unable to play against his parent club. Danny Ward could replace the latter.

Full-backs Frazer Richardson and Jack Hunt are both hoping to pass late fitness tests, while Lee Frecklington is likely to miss out as he recovers from a hernia operation.

These two last met on the opening weekend of the season, when Jeff Hendrick's late goal saw Derby record a 1-0 win at the iPro Stadium.

In fact, the Rams have lost just one of their last 10 league matches against the Millers, but did suffer defeat on their last visit to the New York Stadium in the League Cup in 2009.

Rotherham:

Recent form: LLWDWL

Possible starting lineup: Collin; Richardson, Morgan, Arnason, Fryers; Hammill, Green, Smallwood, Pringle; Derbyshire, Ward

Derby:

Form in Championship: WLWWWD
Form in all competitions: WWWWDL

Possible starting lineup: Grant; Christie, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth; Hendrick, Mascarell, Hughes; Ince, Bent, Ward

Sports Mole says: 1-3


ID:205858: cacheID:205858:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6187: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:
Thomas Ince of Derby County celebrates with Richard Keogh and Will Hughes as he scores their first and equalising goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between AFC Bournemouth and Derby County at Goldsands Stadium on February 10, 2015
Read Next:
Preview: Derby vs. Reading
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham1292123111229
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe1282226161026
3Wrexham1374221101125
4Mansfield TownMansfield127322014624
5Lincoln CityLincoln137332016424
6Bolton WanderersBolton137242219323
7Huddersfield TownHuddersfield137151912722
8Barnsley136432118322
9Reading137152120122
10Stockport CountyStockport135622012821
11Exeter CityExeter126151310319
12Charlton AthleticCharlton135441514119
13Peterborough UnitedPeterborough145362526-118
14Rotherham UnitedRotherham144551416-217
15Stevenage145271015-517
16Blackpool134452125-416
17Bristol Rovers135171520-516
18Northampton TownNorthampton134361720-315
19Wigan AthleticWigan133551211114
20Leyton Orient133281118-711
21Cambridge UnitedCambridge123181117-610
22Crawley TownCrawley133191225-1310
23Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1422101325-128
24Burton Albion120481325-124


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!