An EFL pundit has predicted whether he thinks Derby County will stay up in the Championship in 2024/25.
Derby returned to the Championship following a two-year hiatus last term, with Paul Warne achieving a second-place finish.
The Rams have since used the transfer window to overhaul their squad, adding six new players while offloading eight.
With Warne still hoping to complete more transfers in the coming weeks, namely in attacking positions, it’s difficult to predict how Derby will fare in the second tier.
It’s going to be extremely difficult for the Rams to survive and many supporters would take a 21st-place finish right now if it meant avoiding relegation to League One.
Indeed, Derby will need everything to go their way to avoid being dragged into the bottom three, with EFL pundit Ryan Dilks outlining one factor that could play a ‘big part’ in their survival chances.
Ryan Dilks believes Pride Park atmosphere can help Derby survive
In League One, Derby had one of the best home records in the division, with only Portsmouth and Bolton totalling more points across their 23 matches.
The Rams were backed by a near-capacity crowd of 30,000 every week and support for the players will only increase in the Championship.
With a raucous atmosphere behind them willing the ball into the back of the net, Dilks believes this factor will play a ‘big part’ in the Rams escaping the relegation trapdoor.
Speaking on the Second Tier Podcast, he said: “I don’t think you can underestimate the 12th man with Derby obviously a massive club, they’ll get nearly 30,000 there each week.
“People may think that is a pretty corny reason but I feel like it could play a big part, particularly because Derby supporters feel like they’ve got their club back after the last time they were in the Championship.
“So for those reasons, that’s why I think Derby County will stay up.”
Derby must sign a striker to survive
Whilst Dilks makes a great point about the atmosphere generated at Pride Park, the most important piece of business Derby can do – aside from a new goalkeeper – is acquiring a striker.
Although the Rams have brought in Jerry Yates and Kayden Jackson, that duo have never been the most prolific and at this current stage, it’s difficult to see where the goals are coming from.
Derby need a proven goalscorer at Championship level, who can take the pressure of a back line that will no doubt be put under severe pressure each week.
A strong defence is, of course, key to surviving in any division however, that is only effective if there are players of real quality at the other end.
Outside of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, there aren’t many, if any, genuine match-winners in Warne’s squad and that is a concern that needs addressing in the last few weeks of the window, otherwise, the Rams could struggle.