Derby County go in search of their first away point of the season when they travel to Sunderland for a midweek Championship clash.
Derby are looking to dust themselves down after a controversial 3-2 defeat against Norwich City, as two of the visitors goals should have been disallowed.
That was the Rams’ first home defeat of the season and Paul Warne will want to see a response from his players on Tuesday night, as they visit second place Sunderland in the Championship.
Warne is likely to make some changes to the starting XI that lost to Norwich, with Corey Blackett-Taylor and Tawanda Chirewa in contention after their impressive cameos.
Sunderland, meanwhile, will be leaning on danger man Romaine Mundle to produce quality in the final third, alongside attacking weapons Jobe Bellingham, Patrick Roberts and Wilson Isidor.
Derby, too, have a secret weapon of their own and they must use it to their advantage to secure an unlikely victory.
Derby County’s impressive record from set-pieces
Last season, Derby scored the most goals of any side in the football league from set-pieces, as the left boot of Conor Hourihane proved a profitable route to goal.
The Irishman’s magic from a dead ball helped inspire the Rams to promotion, and although he’s since departed for Barnsley, the 33-year-old’s boots have been filled by the likes of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Callum Elder.
Continuing from where they left off in 2023/24, Derby have scored six goals from set-pieces in the Championship, more than any other side in the division.
Remarkably, the Rams’ record from a dead ball accounts for 60% of their goals, having scored a total of 10 in seven games.
Warne will be therefore leaning on the quality of Mendez-Laing, as well as the height and aerial prowess of Curtis Nelson and Eiran Cashin to score against Sunderland.
So far, Derby have only scored once in their travels since an opening day 4-2 defeat against Blackburn Rovers, and their quality from set-pieces could have a huge say on whether that record changes.
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Derby County’s abysmal record vs Sunderland
The odds are stacked against Derby from securing three points at the Stadium of Light and their recent record against Sunderland won’t fill many with confidence.
Derby have failed to beat the Black Cats in all competitions since a 1-0 victory in the Premier League in February 2001.
That is a run of 12 matches without tasting a win over Sunderland, and while the current Championship table points towards that record continuing, Warne’s men must use that as a tool of motivation to end their abysmal record.