Another weekend in the Championship begins on Friday night, and with matches beginning to run out now there are some huge games in store for us. It all starts at Pride Park where Derby County host Fulham.
Derby need to win here to start to close the gap between themselves and the play-off places while Fulham will finally move into the top two in the Championship table if they come out on top in the game.
Derby County
It looked as though Derby County were on a real roll for the first time this season. People were even talking about them making the play-offs but then they have gone on a downturn again and in truth even if they win here I think the top six is a pipedream now. There are too many good clubs above them and comfortably in front of them as well for them to make up the gap in such a short space of time.
They might look to someone like Aston Villa and show it is possible but for all the money they have spent, and creative accounting they have come up with, they aren’t one of the six best sides in the division, as highlighted by just 41 goals scored and 45 conceded. Only one team has scored fewer in the top half and only one has conceded more. Wayne Rooney or not, any challenge Derby come with has to be too late.
Fulham
When the season began, Fulham were expected to dominate this division alongside Leeds United. I expected them to be champions given that they had kept the majority of their squad and spent sizeably in the transfer window to improve it, however each time they get a run of steam and consistency going they walk head first into a shocking performance and result, and that was the case again last week when they were thumped 3-0 at home to Barnsley.
Amazingly despite this, they are still right in the mix for an automatic promotion spot, but they have now left themselves in a position whereby they need to be navigating tricky tests like this one, however it could be argued that it is these kinds of matches that they perform their best in. Their record on the road is generally decent enough this season which will be a confidence filler and a win here could really put the pressure on Leeds over the weekend.
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Team News
Derby County are expected to be without midfielders Duane Holmes and Tom Huddlestone for this encounter, but versatile defender Andre Wisdom could come back into the side. Jack Marriott is pushing for a starting place.
Fulham are without the likes of Terence Kongolo and Alfie Mawson while Harrison Reed is expected to remain on the sidelines. It will be interesting to see if they change goalkeepers after regular stopper Rodak had an absolute mare last week.
Betting
Derby County have the second best home record in the Championship this term while Fulham are one of the better sides on their travels so it will be interesting to see what gives here. Fulham have improved defensively since Michael Hector came in although they never really conceded many on the road at any time, but they face a good test here against a Derby side who are much better going forward than defending it is fair to say.
Although it is only 8/11, I like the idea of both teams to score here. Barnsley, Charlton and Huddersfield have all scored at Pride Park in recent times so you would think Fulham with the leading marksman in the Championship will do so, but Derby are confident at home and they’ll fancy finding the net too. Fulham’s defensive confidence might have been hit after those calamities last week so both teams to score will do for me.
Tips
WON – Back Both teams to score for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with William Hill
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