DanJ's MatchDay Preview - Crystal Palace vs. Derby County
Friday, 2nd Dec 2011 13:09 by Daniel J Sewart

It just keeps getting worse for the Rams as they stare down the barrel of a sixth straight defeat. Can they make the extra days break count against the extra-time, Red Devil killers or will it just be more bad luck / sad stories for Nigel Clough?

Crystal Palace vs. Derby County

Selhurst Park

7:45pm – Friday November 2nd

Current Form – Last 5 League Matches:

Crystal Palace: 12th – D, D, L, L, D

Derby: 16th – L, L, L, L, L

The Eagles

The famous Carling Cup win over United came at a cost for Palace after some important players were unable to see out the match.

Former Ram Dean Moxey injured his knee while Sean Scannell left the field with a thigh injury. Both are unlikely to return for the Derby clash while Wilfried Zaha was limping heavily by the final whistle even though he lasted the full 120 minute marathon.

Mile Jedinak, Jonathan Parr, Owen Garvan and Chris Martin will all be a chance to return to the line-up should any or all players not be able to recover substantially for the quick turn around.

Darren Ambrose and Glenn Murray must be a good chance to start the match after both scoring as substitutes for Palace against the red devils.

Another former Ram, Lewis Price, played in goals for the Cup win but it is likely to he will be replaced by the clubs returning number one Julian Speroni.

The Rams

John Brayford is unlikely to return for Derby as he will need at least one more week to try and shake off his injury problems. This means Paul Green is likely to continue at right back as Brayford’s stand-in.

Jeff Hendrick was very good for Derby against Brighton and is likely to hold onto his starting position for the televised clash.

Mason Bennett and Callum Ball were both lively when they appeared as subs midweek and one or both may have done enough to push for a starting position.

Speaking to the media Nigel Clough was positive a change of luck and form is very close for his team:

"I know it might seem like doom and gloom but we don't feel like that at the moment. The performance against Brighton we will take every week from now to the end of the season. We had lost four on the spin going into the game but it didn't look like that when you consider the performance we put on. It was upbeat and positive and we just have to maintain that.”

"The fans will not be disappointed with the performance, only the result. We just need to grind out a result from somewhere and we feel one result will turn it all around for us.”

"This is the Championship and we are more than capable of winning five on the trot and going on an unbeaten run. We just need to get a result to get us going. I think we will pick it up again. The performance against Brighton gives us a lot of encouragement."

DanJ’s Match Preview:

Sure the Rams have had an extra days break between matches while their opponents had to play a full Cup match as well as extra time, but will they be able to make that obvious advantage count.

The major unknown factor is whether a giant killing victory over Man United will have Palace taking the field with adrenaline pumping or instead will it be a let down for an Eagles team only doing slightly better in the league than Derby.

Similar to the Rams, Palace has not won in their last 5 after a cracking start to the season, but at least managed a couple of draws in there barren run.

Derby on the other hand has either been poor or plagued by bad luck according to Nigel Clough but the former star striker would be well aware that sometimes you have to create your own luck.

There is no doubt Palace will be tired after their 120 minute cup tie against the reigning top flight champions and Derby will want to be on their guard early as they may come out firing after such a famous victory.

If Clough’s men can hold their opponents early then they may be able to get on top as they run out of legs later in the match. Should this happen then they will want to do a better job than they did against Brighton of turning chances into goals.

Derby played well in the first half against the Hammers and were solid against the Seagulls who were there for the taking but it seems confidence amongst the team is at a very low ebb.

The team needs to back themselves in situations rather than holding the ball too long or waiting for a clear opening to emerge. Too often they hesitate when perhaps they should throw caution to the wind. Easy to say but when the rub of the Green (sorry Paul) is not going your way then you have little to lose.

Both teams have been poor in the league and although the Rams are experts at playing fellow strugglers back into form, I think this one will end in a nervously contested stalemate.

Dan J’s Score Prediction:

Palace 1 - Derby 1