Derby to take advantage of Preston

DERBY County fans must still be reeling after their 5-2 hammering at the City Ground during the week against fierce rivals Nottingham Forest, but their run of five straight defeats should end against Preston on Saturday.

Derby head to Deepdale in the midst of a shocking run of form, with four straight away defeats to add to their overall run of five straight league defeats. After a strong start to the season, Nigel Clough knows that he needs to quickly steady to ship to keep alive any promotion hopes for his side. The 5-2 thrashing at Nottm Forest came after losses to Reading and Norwich at home, as well as Bristol City and Burnley away. However, the Rams have won at Ipswich, Doncaster and Leeds this season, as well as taking draws away from Barnsley and Swansea. Hardly superb form for Derby it must be said, but with the return of (loathsome) captain Robbie Savage, the Rams have the quality to take advantage of struggling Preston.

North End sacked manager Darren Ferguson during the week, but as if the turmoil of losing a manager wouldn’t be enough for the side to deal with ahead of this match, Preston have lost five potential starters for this contest. Michael Tounge and Danny Pugh have both ended their loan spells and returned to Stoke, while Josh King and Ritchie de Laet have returned to Manchester United. Leon Cort has also finished up his loan spell with the team bottom of the table. Preston were struggling even before the upheaval and the loss of players, having been defeated 3-1 by Middlesbrough at home last week. That result did end a decent run of form for the hosts, beating Ipswich and earning draws against Millwall and Cardiff, but the Ipswich victory was their only success since late October.

The only ‘positive’ for Preston is that the 21-points they have dropped from winning positions is the highest in the league – showing their ability to get ahead in games, but given the turmoil around the club at the moment, Derby have every chance to get into, and keep hold of, their own winning position. It is Derby’s own away form that is also a concern, and that makes the 10/11 about Derby draw-no-bet more appealing than the straight 7/4 about an away win.

SUGGESTION:

Derby DNB (10/11 @ various)