Another tough test from a top team - can the Pride Park revival continue?

The Swans:

Current League Position: 4/24
Leading scorer: Darren Pratley 6
Manager: Paulo Sousa
Kit home: White shirt/Black trim, Black shorts
Kit away: Red shirt, White shorts
Last Game: Plymouth 1-1 Swansea

Quotes from the manager:
 
Sousa talking to the BBC after a late retaken penalty robbed them of victory at Home Park:
 
"Everyone in the ground could see what happened. I have watched a replay of it since and the keeper's foot is on the line."

"Dorus did well to save to save them both and showed what he can do when he is called upon although we have not needed him for the past month or so."

"We dominated the game for long spells but we needed two or three touches on that pitch when normally we would only need one and we were not able to play the way we wanted - and pass it quickly."

Current Swans Squad:
 
No. Position. Player.
1 Keeper Dorus de Vries
2 Defender Ashley Williams
5 Defender Alan Tate (vice-captain)
6 Midfield Ferrie Bodde
7 Midfield Leon Britton
8 Midfield Darren Pratley
9 Striker Craig Beattie
10 Midfield Andrea Orlandi
11 Striker Cedric van der Gun
12 Midfield Nathan Dyer
15 Midfield Jordi López
16 Defender Garry Monk
17 Keeper David Cornell
18 Striker Gorka Pintado
19 Striker Lee Trundle (on loan from Bristol City)
21 Defender Federico Bessone
22 Defender Àngel Rangel
23 Striker Guillem Bauzà
24 Midfield Joe Allen
25 Midfield Matthew Collins
26 Defender Albert Serrán
27 Midfield Mark Gower
28 Midfield Thomas Butler
29 Midfield Ashley Richards
30 Striker Chad Bond
32 Striker Ross Mitchell
35 Defender Daniel Sheehan
36 Striker Casey Thomas
39 Defender James Burgin
40 Striker Besian Idrizaj
42 Striker Shefki Kuqi
49 Midfield David Cotterill

 
The Rams:

 
Quotes from the manager:

Nigel Clough talking to BBC Radio Derby about Rob Hulse:
 
"He left his bed that he's been in with a stomach upset most of the day and he got two goals."
 
"I heard somebody say he should have a stomach upset more often! He picked up this afternoon and said, 'Well I'll give it a go, see how long I can last'."

"When the second one went in, he lasted a bit longer being on a hat-trick."
 
 

No. Position. Player.
1 Keeper Stephen Bywater
2 Defender Paul Connolly
3 Defender James McEveley
4 Midfield Paul Green
5 Defender Miles Addison (vice-captain)
6 Defender Dean Leacock
7 Midfield Lee Croft
8 Midfield Robbie Savage (captain)
9 Striker Rob Hulse
10 Midfield Kris Commons
11 Midfield Gary Teale
12 Striker Chris Porter
13 Keeper Saul Deeney
14 Defender Shaun Barker
16 Midfield Stephen Pearson
17 Defender Jake Buxton
18 Midfield Ben Pringle
19 Midfield Michael Tonge (on loan from Stoke City F.C.)
20 Striker Steve Davies
21 Defender Dean Moxey
22 Midfield Arnaud Mendy
23 Defender Mark O'Brien
24 Defender Nicky Hunt (on loan from Bolton Wanderers F.C.)
26 Midfield Lee Hendrie
27 Defender Russell Anderson
28 Defender Mitchell Hanson
33 Defender Mark Dudley
35 Striker Callum Ball
31 Defender Javan Vidal (on loan from Manchester City F.C)
25 Midfield Dave Martin (on loand from Millwall F.C.)
 

What the Bookies think:

Home Win: 6/4
Draw: 21/10
Away win: 6/4
 
First Scorer: - Rob Hulse 11/2, Shefki Kuqi 13/2

Information for travelling fans:
 
Driving: It's nearly 200 miles to Derby from Swansea and not an easy driving route. It's M4, M5 and M40/42 to the M6 where the best route is the toll road to JT4 junction with the A38.

Take the A38 north past Burton on Trent and on reaching Derby follow the signs for the football traffic. The best route is to stay on the A38 until you reach the A61 Junction then turn right until you pick up the A52 Brian Clough Way. The ground is on the right along 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:
 
The Guardian's Forest supporting reporter has re-labelled us as 'play off chasing Derby' instead of 'relegation haunted'. I wouldn't go that far but I can't remember the last time we conceded three goals at home and didn't lose. I can't remember the last time we scored five goals at home.
 
Conceding three shows that there is still some work to be done at the back. The first goal was well taken by Parkin but the second has to go down as poor defending. The third was a late consolation.
 
Barker is looking more and more the signing that Clough hoped he would be. I would go so far as to say McFarland-esqe rather than your classic 'head or hoof to row Z'  centre half.
 
Buxton is more of the 'head or hoof' centre half however he has made a lot of progress playing alongside Barker so it may be that I was wrong about him. That said, I'd still like to see Dean Leacock back in the side one day fully fit. With Barker and Leacock at the heart of defence it might have been 5-0 or 5-1.
 
Swansea are a real promotion chasing team and should be a stern test for the Rams. As we've shown against Forest & Newcastle however, we've nothing to fear from any team.

Mick's Team:

Bywater, Hunt, Barker, Buxton, McEveley, Green, Savage, Tonge, Pearson, Commons, Hulse.

Subs: Vidal, Deeney, Pringle, Anderson, Porter, Martin, Moxey

Mick's Prediction:

Derby 2-1 Swansea

Photo: Action Images

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