Derby County’s play-off ambitions received a dent on Good Friday when they were held to a 2-2 draw away at west midlands outfit Birmingham City, and they now head into Easter Monday’s clash against QPR in what is a ‘must-win’ game for The Rams at Pride Park.
Derby’s recent overall form in the Championship has actually been pretty solid as the hosts have suffered just one defeat out of their last eight matches in the second tier, which was a 2-0 defeat away at Blackburn Rovers, but recent crushing wins against Rotherham United 6-1 and Bolton Wanderers 4-0 have maintained Derby’s top six ambitions.
At Pride Park, Derby have been in good form as they’ve lost just once out of their last 12 matches which was an inexplicable 1-0 defeat to Millwall, but Frank Lampard’s side know they must make the most of their home advantage in this encounter and build upon their solid base on home turf.
Derby will look to goalscoring midfielders Wilson (12 goals) and Mount (8 goals) along with forwards Waghorn (8 goals) and Marriott (7 goals) to get them over the line here.
QPR’s season has been over for some time now and the visitors slumped to a fifth defeat in nine matches in the Championship on Good Friday when they lost 2-1 at home to Blackburn Rovers which has left The R’s in the lower reaches of the division.
Although they’ve lost to Rotherham United, Bolton Wanderers, Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers in recent weeks, QPR are in very little danger of being involved in any last-minute relegation dramas as they’re eight points above Rotherham United, but the visitors would like to ensure their safety here today if at all possible.
This may be easier said than done though as QPR have now endured a nine-match sequence without a win on their travels, a wretched run that includes six defeats at Sheffield United, Wigan Athletic, Bristol City, Middlesbrough, Brentford and Norwich City.
In addition, QPR have failed to score in 9 of their 21 away matches to date this season and they’ll be up against a solid Derby outfit at Pride Park with the hosts going full throttle for all three points in this clash.
Derby will be well motivated to take the spoils here and a disinterested QPR outfit could well suffer another defeat on the road as a consequence.