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

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