DerbyshireLive provides you a detailed preview of the game against Cambridge as the Rams look to record another victory.
Derby County will be looking for a third consecutive win in all competitions when they face Cambridge United on Saturday afternoon at Pride Park.
Derby head coach Paul Warne will be looking for a similar result after beating Carlisle United last time out as they attempt to make progress in a crowded League One table that has yet to take shape.
Ahead of the game, we take a look at the game including the latest team news from both camps, what’s been said by the head coaches of both teams, who will be the key to victory, the predicted line-ups and the respective form of both clubs. Derby have been rocked by the news that Elliot Embleton’s loan is effectively over after he tore a muscle in his thigh and will now return to Sunderland for treatment.
But the Rams will be able to call on Max Bird again after the midfielder finally recovered from an ankle problem. He is is contention after training this week. Elsewhere, Conor Hourihane (hamstring) is a week to 10 days from making a return. Joe Ward (heel), Liam Thompson (thigh), Tyreece John-Jules (thigh) are two to three weeks away. Jake Rooney is a long-term absentee due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in the defeat at Bolton Wanderers.
Cambridge team news
Cambridge will be without Harrison Dunk who has undergone an operation on his knee and there are concerns over Jack Stevens, Brandon Haunstrup and Jordan Cousins who are all battling to be fit. Saikou Janneh is also edging closer to a return after joining full training on Thursday.
Derby form
Paul Warne’s side have lost just once in the last six games, four of which have been victories, in all competitions. They go into Saturday’s game on the back of a win at Carlisle United where two goals from James Collins sealed a 2-0 success. The Rams are currently ninth in the table and do have a game in hand.
Cambridge form
Mark Bonner’s side have an identical league record to the Rams with four wins, one draw and three defeats. They sit 10th in the table They have won two of their last six games in all competitions and were held to a 1-1 draw by Port Vale last time out.
What has Warne said
“They’ve had an excellent start to the season in fairness and although they’ve lost a couple recently, to Wigan and Peterborough, they have been narrow. I’ve always like Cambridge as a club and I love their manager because he introduced me to a cheeseboard after a game.
“He’s built a new team this summer, recruited really well and got some really good experience along the back line. The two games we had with them last year were really tough and they will come here with a real confidence. We will have to be at our very best, possibly better than we have been so far at home, to get a win.”
What has Bonner said
“This is probably the start point of a fairly busy spell for us,” he said. “October has got eight games in it and this is a really good one to look forward to to kick it all off. It’s an amazing stadium and there was an amazing atmosphere when we played there last year over Christmas.
“We’ll have some brilliant support behind us. It’s certainly one of those games that you’re really excited about and look forward to. The league table hasn’t taken shape yet, it’s an individual game that we’ve just got to go and give a really good account of ourselves.”
Who is the key to a Rams win?
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has shown signs of returning to form, grabbing a second consecutive assist in the win over Carlisle last Saturday. After a sluggish start to the season, a fit and fire Mendez-Laing is a true entertainer who is difficult to stop when in full flight. Derby plays good when he plays well. And a strong effort from him could be the difference between success and defeat.
Lineups that are expected
Wildsmith, Wilson, Nelson, Cashin, Forsyth, Fornah, Bird, Mendez-Laing, Waghorn, Barkhuizen, Collins (4-2-3-1)
Mannion, L Bennett, R Bennett, Morrison, Andrew, Digby, Thomas, Brophy, Kachunga, Kaikai, Ahadme (4-2-3-1)
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