Can the Rams sustain their unbeaten run against a team enjoying their best spell of the season?

Derby County v Doncaster Rovers
Coca Cola Championship – Pride Park
Saturday 19th December 2009 -  3pm

The Teams:

Doncaster:

Current League Position: 15/24
Leading scorer: Billy Sharp (9)
Manager: Sean O’Driscoll
Kit home: Red and white hooped shirts, black shorts, red socks
Kit away: Black shirts, red shorts, red socks
Last game: Doncaster 1 – Bristol City 0

Quotes from the manager:

Sean O’Driscoll speaking before the game with Derby:

"We’re on a decent run at the moment though and if we can go there and get the same result (Rams 0 – DRFC 1) as last time we were there, then we will be delighted".

“They had a good win against Watford, who themselves had beat QPR quite convincingly on the television, so that just sums up this league".

“They are very organised, very hard to beat and they are on a decent run themselves.  Again, it looks like it is going to be a very tight game".

“We’ve never won four games on the trot in the Championship so that is great motivation for us.”

Doncaster Squad:

1 Neil Sullivan Gk
2 James O’Connor Defence
3 Gareth Roberts Defence
5 Billy Sharp Striker (on loan from Sheff Utd)
6 James Chambers Defence
7 Lewis Guy Striker
8 Brian Stock Midfield
9 Steve Brooker Striker
10 John Spicer Midfield
11  Adam Lockwood Defence
12 James Hayter Striker
13 Benjamin Smith Gk
14 Paul Heffernan Striker (on loan to Oldham)
15  Mark Wilson Midfield
16 John Oster Midfield
17 Martin Woods Midfield
18 Sean McDaid Defence
19 Quentin Fortune Midfield
20  Jason Shackell Defence
21 Sam Hird Defence
22  Dean Shiels Striker
23 Byron Webster Defence
24 Mustapha Dumbuya Midfield
25 Stuart Elliott Midfield
26 James Coppinger Midfield
27 Jack Wilson Midfield
29  Wade Fairhurst Striker (on loan to Shrewsbury)
31  Simon Gillett Midfield (on loan from Soton)
33  Gary Woods Gk
34  Robert Clarke Midfield
35  Charles Fisher Defence

The Rams:

Nigel Clough speaking about the game against Doncaster:

“Having strikers to choose from is a nice problem to have, we have not had such a problme this season".

“ We saw the benefits of having strikers available last week at Waford and we’lll keep seeing the benefits".

"Other teams can do it to us and have done this season. Ipswich brought on fresh strikers when we palyed them at Portman Road and all of a sudden they looked a bit more lively.  That’s a good example of it can work”.

Derby Squad:

1 Keeper Stephen Bywater
2 Defender Paul Connolly
3 Defender James McEveley
4 Midfield Paul Green
5 Defender Miles Addison INJURED
6 Defender Dean Leacock
7 Midfield Lee Croft
8 Midfield Robbie Savage (captain)
9 Striker Rob Hulse
10 Striker Kris Commons INJURED
11 Midfield Gary Teale
12 Striker Chris Porter
13 Keeper Saul Deeney INJURED
14 Defender Shaun Barker INJURED
16 Midfield Stephen Pearson
17 Defender Jake Buxton
18 Midfield Ben Pringle
20 Striker Steve Davies
21 Midfield Dean Moxey
22 Midfield Arnaud Mendy
23 Defender Mark O'Brien INJURED
24 Midfield Jake Livermore (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
25 Striker Paul Dickov (on loan from Leicester City)
26 Midfield Lee Hendrie
27 Defender Fredrik Stoor INJURED (on loan from Fulham)
-- Midfield Reuben Zadkovich INJURED
29 Striker Greg Mills
32 Striker DJ Campbell (on loan from Leicester)

What the Bookies think:

Rams to win: 13/10
Doncaster to win: 11/5

Draw: 11/5

Information for traveling fans:

Driving: It's about 50 miles from the Hawthorns to Pride Park. Take the M5 north to the M6. Tale the toll road and pick up the A38 north to Derby. As you enter Derby you will see brown signs directing you to Pride Park. Essentially follow directions for Nottingham & pick up the A52 Brian Clough way. Pridre Park is on the right - after the Pentagon Island.

Parking: 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 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.

Paul’s Predicted Rams Line-up:

Bywater, Connolly, McEveley, Buxton, Moxey, Green, Savage, Pearson, Hendrie, Campbell, Dickov - Subs: Porter, Livermore, Teale, Croft, Leacock, Hulse, Deeney.

Match Thoughts:

The last time Doncaster sampled our hospitality, PJ was still the manager, and all hopes for a promotion challenge faded away after this mauling from Rovers on the opening day of the 2008-09 season.

Times have changed considerably since then, and fans will be expecting if not hoping that we can beat them this time.

They will also be watching out for Paul Green who they still consider as one of their best ever players.

Paul’s Prediction:

Derby 1 – Doncaster 1

Photo: Action Images

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