Tonight the Rams welcome a team their fans love to hate nearly as much as florists down the road. Doing the double over dirty Leeds would go a little way towards making up for an otherwise uneventful season.

Derby County vs. Leeds United

Tuesday 12th April 2011

Pride Park - Derbyshire

P 53 W 20 D 14 L 19 F 82 A 71

Last game at Pride Park

Tue 11 Nov 08    Derby 2 - 1 Leeds; Ellington, Villa

Current Form

Leeds  - 6/24 P 40 W 17 D 13 L 10 F 75 A 64  

Leading scorers: Becchio (18lg1cp)

Derby - 19/24  Derby P 39 W 12 D 9 L 19 F 51 A 59

Leading scorers:  Bueno, Cywka, Moore, Savage (4)

The Rams

"Brad has not played much this season but he did not have much to do. He wasn't peppered with shots" said Nigel Clough following the Coventry game.

It's been a long odd season on the goalkeeper front and following the Frank Fielding fiasco, most fans were relieved to have a goalkeeper between the sticks - til they saw him play.

Shaky seems to be the best and most charitable description of Jones coming from fans after the game.

This is a sign of the growing annoyance and unrest among the fans - they aren't willing to give players the benefit of the doubt any more.

Some fans headed for the exit at 2-0 down and though the Rams fought back to 2-0, many were still unhappy with the acceptance that 2-2 at home against a struggling Coventry is acceptable.

On The Monday night Radio Derby moan in I heard Jonny Metgod state that apart from perhaps another 5 points, the team was where "he expected them to be".

That isn't what they said at season ticket sale time last year and we should record the pronouncements of Tom Glick now for next season if it turns into yet another relegation battle or transition season - particularly the pronouncements in his fan meetings and personal calls.

The depth of feeling - or depth of apathy many fans are feeling now means Tom may have to meet every fan to get any significant renewals on last season. I know many fans who are not contemplating renewing next season including myself - many who are long term regulars.

Mediocrity is not progress and nor is it something to aspire to.

Possible team

Jones

Brayford Barker Ayala Pearson

B.Davies Savage Bailey Bueno

S.Davies Ward

SUBS: Severn, Robinson, Addisson, Pringle, Cywka, Anderson, Doyle

Current Rams Squad

No.    Position    Player

2    Defender    John Brayford

3    Defender    Gareth Roberts

4    Midfield    Paul Green

5    Defender    Shaun Barker (vice-captain)

6    Defender    Dean Leacock

7    Striker        Steve Davies

8    Midfield    Robbie Savage (club captain)

10    Striker        Jamie Ward (on loan from Sheffield United)

11    Midfield    Stephen Pearson

12    Striker        Chris Porter

13    Keeper        Saul Deeney

14    Defender    Russell Anderson

16    Midfield    James Bailey

17    Defender    Jake Buxton

18    Midfield    Ben Pringle

19    Striker        Tomasz Cywka

20    Defender    Miles Addison

21    Defender    Daniel Ayala (on loan from Liverpool)

23    Striker        Conor Doyle

24    Midfield    Arnaud Mendy

25    Defender    Mark O'Brien

26    Striker        Callum Ball

27    Striker        Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid)

28    Midfield    Ben Davies

29    Midfield    Jeff Hendrick

34    Keeper        Brad Jones

Leeds

Leeds looked a very ordinary team in the opening fixture at Elland Rd. Despite the build up by the media of them as an awakening giant and despite the hype, the Rams managed to come away with all three points.

Since then Leeds have managed to sneak into the play offs. They are still a very ordinary team, but hard working, organised and well-managed.

Outside of Cardiff and QPR with all their expensive loans there's very little stand-out players in the CCC. I watched them beat Forest and though under the cosh for much of the first half, they were able to spot and exploit the weakness of Billy Davies's team and fashion a victory.

The weekend saw them lose to fellow promotion hopefuls Millwall but they still have a four point gap on their main rivals for the play off place.

Simon Grayson has few injury concerns and has George McCartney and Sanchez Watt in contention for a place while Barry Bannan and Neil Kilkenny are available.

And Jonny Metgod? Ask any of the Derby or Leeds fans there tonight and you will find the rivalry does mean something.

Current Leeds Squad

No.      Position     Player

1      Keeper         Kasper Schmeichel

2      Defender     Paul Connolly

3      Defender     Patrick Kisnorbo

4      Defender     Alex Bruce

6      Defender     Richard Naylor (club captain)

7      Midfield     Max Gradel

8      Midfield     Neil Kilkenny

9      Striker     Billy Paynter

10      Striker     Luciano Becchio

11      Midfield     Lloyd Sam

12      Keeper         Shane Higgs

14      Midfield     Jonathan Howson (vice-captain)

16      Midfield     Bradley Johnson

17      Midfield     Jake Livermore (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)

18      Midfield     Sanchez Watt (on loan from Arsenal)

19      Defender     Ben Parker

20      Defender     Eric Lichaj (on loan from Aston Villa)

22      Keeper         David González (on loan from Manchester City)

23      Midfield     Robert Snodgrass

25      Midfield     Barry Bannan (on loan from Aston Villa)

26      Defender     Leigh Bromby

27      Striker     Davide Somma

29      Defender     George McCartney (on loan from Sunderland)

40      Defender     Andy O'Brien

44      Striker     Ross McCormack

What the bookies think

Leeds are favourites at 7/5 while home side Derby are at 19/10, Very poor odds indeed, the draw is at 23/10.

Luciano Becchio is the favourite to score first at 11/2 while Alberto Bueno and Steve Davies are at 6/1. Our captain and joint leading scorer is at 12/1.

Information for travelling fans

Driving

M1 South to J16 for Derby. Take the A52 Brian Clough Way to Derby. Take the A6 turn-off for Derby and the ground and away parking are signposted. About 60 miles and a 1.5 hours drive.

Parking

Away fans can park at Catalyst on London Rd opposite the Navigation pub. It's about 10-15 minutes from the ground. Don't be tempted to park at Pride Park shopping centre unless you fancy being clamped.

You can also park at the Fireplace showroom just at the turn off the A52 for Pride Park. Don’t be in a rush to leave however as it takes an age to get out of there. Another alternative is to pass the exit for Pride Park on Brian Clough Way and head for Pentagon Island... Take the first exit and turn left and after a few hundred yards you will come to The Cattle Market Car Park. It's about 10 minutes walk to the ground from here.

Drinking

There are a few pubs very close to the ground but if you come by train, the locale around the station is fairly inviting. The Crown and Cushion at the junction of London Rd always seems to be full of away supporters.

The Brunswick is a must for any real ale fans and the Alexandra next door is my personal favourite. Fans tend to mingle in these pubs and as long as you're not being aggressive, the atmosphere is good. The Waterfall opposite the station is very good as well.

If you are driving, the Navigation Pub on London Rd opposite the parking area is your best bet. Around the ground there's a Frankie & Bennie's, Harvester and the Pride Park but these tend to be very busy.

Mick's prediction

I wouldn't be surprised if there were four goals tonight I just can't see the Rams scoring any of them.

Leeds have managed 75 goals this season and we do not have a player who has scored more than four all season.

I can't see anything but a defeat.

Derby 0-2 Leeds

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls