Derby County host Hull City at Pride Park on Saturday in a game which both teams will be targeting all three points to help climb the Championship table.
Hull won the reverse fixture 2-0, with Jarrod Bowen scoring two late goals.
(photo by Lee Parker/Action Plus via Getty Images).
Derby played well at the KCOM Stadium and will feel they deserved more. Hull, though, were clinical on the counterattack as Bowen capitalised on some slack defending.
The Rams have improved of late. They come into the game four games unbeaten, and off the back of a 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough. Here is how we think they will line up.
The one change at the back is Andre Wisdom coming in for Jayden Bogle. Wisdom was unlucky to be left out at Boro, and Bogle continues to be inconsistent.
Max Lowe is in excellent form and keeps his place at left-back. Matt Clarke and Curtis Davies, meanwhile, are forming a strong partnership in the middle of defence.
The personnel are likely to be the same as it was against Boro. However, Phillip Cocu made a key switch at half time at the Riverside which certainly paid dividends.
Wayne Rooney has largely been deployed in a holding role since joining Derby.
He pushed further forward, however, in the second half at Boro. The Rams were far better for it. The former Manchester United player ought to start as an attacking midfielder.
That would leave Duane Holmes and Max Bird as holding midfielders. Both are young, have plenty of energy and read the game well. They can get Derby going.
(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images).
Tom Lawrence and Jason Knight are likely to remain out wide. It seems Cocu wants to sign a new wide player, but Derby have yet to complete any business this month.
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