Derby County will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run to four matches when they host Hull City on Saturday afternoon.
The Rams snatched a point against Oxford United on Tuesday night while Hull City were held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley on Wednesday.
Only one point and three places can separate 12th-place Derby from Hull City in 15th as Paul Warne’s men aspire to continue their strong home record.
Derby have won four of their five matches at Pride Park and have kept clean sheets in four of those matches, only tasting a 3-2 defeat to Norwich City.
Following their draw in midweek, Warne could make some fresh changes to the starting XI, perhaps bringing in one attacking star.
- READ MORE: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing shares what Paul Warne told Derby County squad at half-time vs Oxford United
Why Paul Warne must unleash Marcus Harness vs Hull City
Marcus Harness was signed on loan from Ipswich Town during the summer.
The 28-year-old has since featured seven times in the Championship, starting on three occasions and scoring his first goal in a 2-0 win over QPR.
On that day, Harness played in a midfield trio alongside Ebou Adams and Kenzo Goudmijn, a partnership that needs reinstating after Ben Osborn started Tuesday’s draw at Oxford.
With Adams winning the ball back like a machine and Goudmijn pulling the strings, Warne can use the ‘exceptional’ Harness as an attacking weapon.
Starting the Republic of Ireland star over Osborn can give Derby extra attacking thrust, which will be needed to exploit Hull’s key weakness.
Personnel-wise, Tim Walter sets the Tigers up in a three-man midfield, with one sitting – usually Xavier Simons – and two playing more advanced.
This usually leaves gaps that the opposition can exploit once they turn over possession and isolating Simons in that deeper role is where Harness can find some joy.
Also, Hull religiously play out from the back so if Harness can execute the press effectively alongside Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Jerry Yates, there will be chances to win the ball high.
Derby County’s strong recent record vs Hull City
Derby’s recent record over Hull is impressive, with the Rams tasting victory in six of their last seven meetings.
| 28 Aug 2018 | Hull City v Derby County | W | 0-4 | League Cup |
| 01 Sep 2018 | Hull City v Derby County | W | 1-2 | League Championship |
| 09 Feb 2019 | Derby County v Hull City | W | 2-0 | League Championship |
| 26 Oct 2019 | Hull City v Derby County | L | 2-0 | League Championship |
| 18 Jan 2020 | Derby County v Hull City | W | 1-0 | League Championship |
| 18 Aug 2021 | Hull City v Derby County | W | 0-1 | League Championship |
| 08 Feb 2022 | Derby County v Hull City | W | 3-1 | League Championship |
They’ve also not lost at home to the Tigers since a 3-0 defeat in the Championship play-off semi-final clash in 2016, as Derby lost the tie 3-2 on aggregate after nearly mounting comeback in the second leg.
With not much to separate the two sides in the table, this could be Hull’s best chance of securing their first win at Pride Park in eight years but Warne will have something to say about that.