On Friday night, Midlands rivals Derby County and Stoke City meet at Pride Park in the Championship, as the visitors attempt to move away from the relegation zone.
Derby have struggled to live up to last season when the Rams suffered defeat in the play-off final. The summer loss of head coach Frank Lampard has obviously had a big effect on the team’s performances. County have spent much of the campaign near the bottom of the team.
A run of three wins in their last five Championship outings has moved the home side 11 points clear of the relegation zone. A 3-2 defeat last time out in the second tier ended a five-game unbeaten run in the league. The game produced yet another high-scoring league game for County, as four of their last five matches in the Championship have produced over 2.5 goals.
The Rams recent home form has improved of late, as Philip Cocu’s side have now won their last three league matches at Pride Park in the Championship.
Stoke City have endured a difficult campaign in the English second tier. However, the Potters are starting to move away from the Championship relegation zone. In fact, Michael O’Neill’s team are currently six points clear of the danger zone.
A 2-0 win over Swansea City last time out means that the visitors are unbeaten in four Championship games, having recorded three victories in the process.
The Potters results have improved of late due to stronger defensive displays, as they have kept clean sheets in their last three games in the second tier.
The visitors have won two straight away games in the Championship at Huddersfield and West Brom. However, the Potters have also lost six of their last nine league matches on their travels.
Forebet predicts that Derby will end Stoke’s recent good league run by recording a victory in a high-scoring clash.