Fifth place Derby will clash with the Championship's bottom team Sunderland on Friday night. Neither team go into the fixture in good form, and Derby need a win to keep their hopes of qualifying for the promotion playoffs alive.
Derby are winless in their last seven matches, and since week 30 in the Championship, the team has dropped from second place to fifth.
Manager Gary Rowett needs a big performance from his side, especially after having their last match against Cardiff postponed due to weather. Derby officials canceled the game due to the cold, icy conditions, but many Championship experts believe the club did it as a way to rest its battered players. Cardiff manager Neil Warnock was none too pleased, but in the end, Derby got the chance to rest. Now, the side take on Sunderland, who still have a chance of survival in the Championship. Just five points back from safety, Sunderland have eight matches and a possible 24 points to save their season.
The Black Cats are winless in their last 10 matches in the Championship. Sunderland have collected just five wins this term, the fewest in the league. Although Sunderland have given up the most goals (68), Chris Coleman's team has scored a fair few. The club has registered 38 strikes, which is the fifth fewest in the Championship; however, it does show the Black Cats have goals in them.
Aiden McGeady has been Sunderland's main man in front of goal. The Scotsman has tallied six goals while supplying four assists. Sunderland have not replaced the scoring of former player Lewis Grabban. The striker was on loan from Bournemouth, and during his time at the Stadium of Light, Grabban scored 12 goals. Since his loan ended on January 5th, Sunderland have only scored nine times. The team's last three matches have all ended in clean sheet losses.
While Sunderland have not properly replaced Grabban's goal scoring, Derby have player problems of their own. The team is suffering through an injury crisis as Rowett attempts to stop the club's slide down the table. Injuries have been so bad that five Derby U-23 players were used against Nottingham Forest in the Championship a few weeks ago. The game ended nil-nil.
According to Rowett's interviews in the build-up to Friday night's game, he has stated the Rams will most likely still have a depleted squad. Although Derby have had three weeks to rest, the injury crisis has been so bad, Rowett's players are still on the trainer's table. Derby's top striker Mateja Vydra (17 goals) missed the team's last match due to a groin injury. He suffered the injury in the team's previous draw against Queens Park Rangers and lasted only seven minutes in the fixture. It isn't known if he will play on Friday.
Despite the injuries and loss of form over the last month, Derby will hand Sunderland their 21st loss of the season. It will re-ignite playoff hopes, but Derby desperately need their injury crisis to end.