Coming so soon on the back of the Forest game, some fans will see this game as the grudge match against our bitter rivals.

Derby County v Leeds United

Carling Cup

7:45pm, 11^th November, 2008

Pride Park, Derby

For fans in their mid-forties like me, Leeds United was the big Derby match in the 1970’s. Forest at the time were poor and languishing in the lower divisions. Don Revie’s boys were the antithesis of Brian Clough and Derby County and there were many hard fought matches - and lots of trouble on the terraces.

Those days are long in the past and Clough and Revie are no longer with us but still some of us middle aged fans think of this as a big game.  Much of the approbation heaped on Leeds comes from the antics of their more Neanderthal fans and it doesn’t matter how many ordinary fans you meet - the next one will always be one of the cocksure “we are the champions - the champions of Europe” brigade.

Leeds fall from grace over the last few years has been well documented and the schadenfreude felt by other fans has been very real and yet it is true - Leeds are a big team and with their potential fan base they should be in the Premier League and challenging. - But, and it’s a big but, it has to be on merit.

Gary McAllister finally seems to be building a team that has that merit. Leeds currently lie second in the table to Scunthorpe and are widely predicted to achieve promotion this year.

The club seems to have achieved some financial stability under Ken Bates and the days of naively paying players like Seth Johnson £37,000 a week are over. 

These days the club is developing the skills of younger players such as Jermaine Beckford and finding overseas players such as Enoch Showunmi and Luciano Becchio.

Beckford, a former target of Paul Jewell (remember Dennis Wise claiming Leeds were a bigger club - and then buggering off to Newcastle) has been among the goals this year.  Thirteen goals so far, he finally looks to be developing into the player that Wise predicted - though that’s probably down to McAllister. Hopefully for us, his hip injury will keep him out tonight but he’s widely predicted to play.

Gary McAllister is also showing interest in injury ravaged former Ram Malcolm Christie who has been without a club since being released by Middlesbrough.

Leeds facts

The Rams

We have a crisis at centre half. Clearly Albrechtsen and Leacock are not fit and they will never get fit if we keep rushing them back into the team as soon as they can lace a boot. That leaves us with Lewin Nyatanga, Claude Davis, Miles Addison or at the outside, Jay McEveley. Failing the signing of an emergency centre-half before Tuesday night (and one that isn't cup-tied) we will have to play Claude and Lewin - especially seeing as Miles Addison is suspended.

That isn’t good news as far as many fans are concerned but it is the best centre half partnership we can put out … so get behind them. Booing the player’s names and expressing annoyance at every bad ball will not help their confidence - get behind the players - not on their backs.

To keep a clean sheet, it's preferable to keep the ball as far away from defenders as possible and in this respect, our midfield is failing. Midfield has to win the ball, and pass it to team mates - preferably in goal scoring positions. They have to help out the defence and also provide goals as support the attack. One of our problems this season is a propensity to give the ball away. Miles Addison aside, the passing of our other three midfielders this season has been wayward to say the least.

Jewell has tried to find the missing piece with Gary Teale but, apart from the Brighton game, he’s been peripheral at best. Maybe the level of Brighton is his level in which case he may feature tonight?

Up front, our strikers are beginning to get goals - and one of them, Hulse, has even got an award.  Hulse should therefore start all the games he can but the question is; who to play alongside him?  Villa doesn’t seem to fit the bill and apart from fitfully, neither does Ellington.

Mick's Team: Carroll, Stewart, Davis, Nyatanga, Connolly, Commons, Kaz, Green, Teale, Ellington, Hulse

What the bookies think

Derby are favourites with William Hill at 5/6 on while Leeds are at a rather generous 13/5 given the nature of the occasion. The draw is at 23/10. Jermaine Beckford is an 11/4 anytime scorer - also generous - do the bookies even check up on form of players or teams. Villa and Hulse are both 2/1 anytime scorers.

Information for travelling fans

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 okay 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.

Driving it’s about 75 miles to Derby from Leeds. Best route is M1 South to Junction 25. Take the A52 Brian Clough Way to Derby and the Stadium is on your left as you arrive in Derby. You can take the ring road to the London Rd area for Parking or stay on as described below.

Parking: It used to be at the old Wilmorten College site however that is now a housing estate so away fans should 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 for a £5 at the hospital further up London Rd near the hospital and the Railway station. 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.

Mick’s prediction

League and league position usually go out of the window at this stage of the cup, we can’t keep a clean sheet and Leeds have a few good strikers. We need to outscore them and not let them get their tails up otherwise this cup run will come to an end. I reckon we’ll see extra time.

Photo: Action Images

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