Score predictions - Derby home

Derby next up, a day shy of it being a year since their last visit to Oakwell, which ended in a comprehensive home victory for the Reds. The bookies have us as marginal outsiders for this one at 7/4, with the leagues current second place team priced at 6/4 to secure their 3rd straight win, and 6th unbeaten in the league.


Derby have the best away record in the division at present, with 35 points from 17 games (though our PPG is marginally better). They've lost just 1 of their last 9 away games (1-0 at Reading) conceding just 4 goals across that period. In contrast, our home form in the same time period is 1 defeat in 10, though we have conceded on average a goal per game in that time.


Our head to head record at Oakwell favours us slightly. We've won the last 2 meetings, are unbeaten in 4 and have lost just 3 of the last 17 meetings at Oakwell, stretching back as far as 1994. Derby's last victory at Oakwell came late in Paul Heckinbottom's tenure as Barnsley manager, in a season where the Reds were relegated from the Championship, whilst the Rams were beaten play off semi finalists. 7 of the Barnsley lineup from our 4-1 victory over the Rams last year are likely to start on Saturday, whereas only 4 of the Derby team that day started their game vs Stevenage last weekend.


Thankfully for us, Derby's leading marksman James Collins is out for the game this weekend. The Irish forward has a very good record against the Reds, regularly scoring against us during his time as a Luton player. Corey Taylor-Blackett, who has scored 8 and assisted 6 for Charlton this season, has found his time so far at Derby quite stop start, but is likely to be fit for the weekend. Martyn Waghorn and Conor Washington are also on the sidelines at the minute for Derby, meaning a likely start for new signing Dwight Gayle. Derby have the tightest defence in the division, largely in part to highly rated centre half Eiran Cashin, who recently signed a new deal at Pride Park despite interest from Brighton. The Irish man has been an almost ever present at the back for Derby for the past 2 seasons, and despite a torrid game at Oakwell last season, has become probably the best defender in the division.


Referee Bobby Madley has taken charge of 18 games so far this season, issuing 91 yellows and 4 red cards, making him above average in terms of issuing cards this season. His last Derby appointment was their 1-0 win over West Brom in the EFL Cup last season, where Louis Sibley scored an early winner, and the only booking was for Baggies substitute Tom Fellows. His last Reds appointment was all the way back in October 2013, where he took charge of our 1-1 draw at home against Wednesday. Marcus Pedersen's early volley was cancelled out in the second half by Matty Fryatt. 3 bookings were issued that day, to the aforementioned Pedersen, and Wednesday players Reda Johnson and Adthe Nuhiu.


There were certainly signs against Fleetwood that our defensive line is looking stronger with the addition of Earl, and then Pines' second half introduction. Whilst we still didn't keep a clean sheet, the goal could be more apportioned to the attacker's strike rather than an individual defensive error (though arguments could be made for both Williams' clearance and Kane's tackle), and with another week on the training ground, we might finally start to see that impact here in a game against a good Derby side missing a few attacking options. Presuming we have almost everyone to choose from, I wouldn't be surprised to see McAtee back in the side, in a game which would suit him more than Cosgrove. I'm quietly confident about this one, and think it will be the base for another unbeaten run towards the end of the season. I'm going for our favourite scoreline, 2-1 reds, with Cole getting back amongst the goals, and McAtee breaking his baron spell in front of goal.

 

Barnsley 1-176 Derby County

 

This has got 1-1 written all over it.

 

2-1 Reds.

 

2~1 Barnsley 4+ bookings

 

3-2 Red. Nerve jangler.
Cole, Cosgrove, Cadden.

17,486

Lotto.
5, 6, 7, 21, 26, 38. BB 12

 

1-0 Reds

 

1-3 Derby

 

1-0 reds

 

Nice and positive as ever

 

Colliers 1 Rams 2

 

1-1. Hourihane 96th minute sickener.

 

I think we’ll lose, I might be right I might be wrong, it’s a prediction thread.

 

Got a good feeling about this one
2-1 reds, making the 200 mile journey back home much sweeter

 

When did Derby sign Nerve Jangler?

 

1-1

 

Lots of nice looking stats for us, but Rams to grind out a 1-0 win.

 

3-2 Reds

 

Think they’ll be goals in this and got a good feeling we won’t lose. Torn between 3-2 us or 2-2.

 

Match postponed due to heavy snow early Saturday morning. Pools panel verdict - Score Draw.