A promotion showdown awaits at Fratton Park as Derby County travel to Portsmouth this evening.
Derby County strengthened their grip on second position in League One by edging past Blackpool last time out. A thunderbolt out of the blue from Ebou Adams was the difference between the two sides.
Following just one defeat in their last seven matches, Derby face arguably their hardest test of the season tonight, travelling to league leaders Portsmouth who have accumulated the most points on average at home (2.26).
With a chance to close the gap to just two points, despite playing a game more, Paul Warne‘s men arrive at Fratton Park in decent fettle.
Derby County injury latest
The Rams were boosted by the returns of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and James Collins last time out.
Mendez-Laing started the match against the Seasiders while Collins was given 20 minutes from the bench.
Having welcomed back his two most important players in attack, Warne has no fresh injury concerns for this match, but he still has nine players recovering on the injury table.
Dwight Gayle, Tom Barkhuizen, Max Bird, Craig Forsyth, Josh Vickers, Tyreece John-Jules, Tyrese Fornah, Jake Rooney and Ryan Nyambe are all still sidelined ahead of this crucial clash at the top.
With that in mind, here’s how Derby County could line up…
Derby County predicted XI v Portsmouth
In the reverse fixture, a 95th-minute equaliser from Colby Bishop denied Derby all three points at Pride Park.
Joe Wildsmith is the man who will be tasked with keeping out John Mousinho’s side tonight having kept 16 clean sheets in 35 matches this term.
A four-man defence of Kane Wilson, Eiran Cashin, Curtis Nelson and Louie Sibley is expected to remain unchanged, although Warne may be tempted to throw Callum Elder in over Sibley.
READ MORE: Derby County star Eiran Cashin’s journey from almost released to Premier League transfer interest
As for their midfield, Warne went for legs in the middle of the park against Blackpool, starting Korey Smith alongside Ebou Adams instead of Conor Hourihane. However, don’t be surprised if he throws the Irish maestro back into the starting XI to gain more control against the leaders.
Derby started with a 4-4-2 against the Tangerines with Joe Ward down the right and Corey Blackett-Taylor on the left. That duo should remain, although there could be one change up front.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is nailed on to start at striker with Warne counting on him to produce some magic while the Derby boss could also unleash the “excellent” James Collins in over Washington.
Washington was non-existent against Blackpool, making just nine touches in 70 minutes of action, so Collins could be unleashed here.