Mid table obscurity is something that we Derby fans can only aspire to – while for Coventry fans it’s something that they’ve got. 

Derby County v Coventry City

Coca Cola Championship

Saturday 31st January 2009

Pride Park, Derby

That won’t be enough for Sky Blues Manager Chris Coleman and not enough for the fans. Since losing their Premier League status, it’s been pretty grim to be a Coventry fan.

After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, the Sky Blues started the season well but hit the slide around the time we played them at the Ricoh. Many Derby fans felt robbed that day when a late equalizer from City came about from a wrongly given throw – Clinton Morrison profiting.

Coventry have improved somewhat, only losing once in the last eight, but seem destined to finish the season in mid-table – Unless Chris Coleman can sort the team out.

He’s started by adding Teenage winger Lee Sawyer on loan from Chelsea and another winger in David Bell from Norwich. The Sky Blues have been after Bell for a while in that Glenn Roeder accused Coventry of trying to unsettle the player.

They’ve also signed Jordan Henderson from Sunderland with a view to him playing a central midfield role.

Coleman includes Henderson and Bell in the squad and it will be interesting to see if the debut.

Sky Blues Facts

The Rams

Can Nigel Clough notch up his first win?

He’ll have to do it without Giles Barnes who is bound for Fulham and possibly without Kris Commons who is apparently a target of Newcastle.

Strange the Clough described Barnes as a key player in our remaining season and I fail to see how a loan to Fulham is of any use to DCFC? Of course it may be that Clough has players lined up to bolster the squad and this some how facilitates any moves – indeed we’re being linked with Striker Chris Porter – but it’s bound to alarm Derby fans who remember the Huddlestone debacle.

Derby came away from St. Andrews with their heads high after a well fought game but with no points and in the bottom three! Clough said afterwards;

"It was a very good performance in everything but the result to come to third in the league and play in the manner we did. We'd rather play like that every week because if we do we'll be OK. If we had come here and struggled there would have been more reason to be downhearted about it but that wasn't the case. There's progress and improvement but they've got to start turning that into results."

Wise words but worrying when he said earlier in the week that the underlying problems at the club need ironing out and could take up to 18 months. In 18 months we could be in Division 1 and on negative points.

Duke Ellington, Andy Todd and Jay McEveley are all fit for this game and likely to be in the squad.

Mick’s team: Bywater, Stewart, Albrechtsen, Todd, Connolly, Commons, Addison, Green, Savage, Ellington, Hulse

What the bookies think

William Hill fancy us for a win at 11/10 while the Sky Blues are at 2/1. The draw is at 11/5. William Hill still think Giles Barnes is a Derby player and have him at 9/4 while our favourites to score are Hulse & Ellington at 6/4.

Favourite for the Sky Blues is Clinton Morrison at 7/4.

Information for travelling fans

Driving: Driving: It’s 54miles from Coventry to Derby. Take the M6 to its Junction with the M69 then head north to the M1. Take J25 of the M1 and the 52 Brian Clough Way to Derby. You will see Pride Park on your left once you enter Derby. Follow the signs for Parking.

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.

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.

Mick’s prediction

We need to win – Not going to predict an outcome but we need to get behind the team and the team need to put the effort in.

Photo: Action Images

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