Derby Preview – Home, Dec 12th

Nigel Clough’s struggling Derby County are the visitors to the Vic’ today, lagging down in 17th with just three points won on the road this season, and none of them coming from wins.

The Ram’s squad has been decimated with injury, much like last season, and Clough Jnr. has had to rely heavily on loan signings to bolster his depleted squad.

Saturday’s likely front two will be on loan from Nigel Pearson’s Leicester City having fallen down the pecking order there. DJ Campbell, a one-time Hornet’s target notched on his Rams debut last weekend. Campbell spent a successful spell on loan at high-flyers Blackpool last term where he grabbed nine goals before returning to the Walkers Stadium. Partnering Campbell up top will be diminutive forward, Paul Dickov. Vastly experienced, Dickov arrived back in September and has grabbed two goals from seven starts at Pride Park.

Also on loan, is Bryan Hughes. The former Charlton and Birmingham midfielder has found chances hard to come by at the KC Stadium and left on loan in October. His debut saw everything that was good and bad about Derby County. In front of the BBC cameras they raced into a two-goal lead, however they let QPR back into the game to ultimately claim victory 4-2. Hughes is a cultured midfielder with a huge creative drive in the Rams midfield, and along with Robbie Savage he’s part of an experienced midfield unit.

At the back, Clough has plenty of injury issues, though he will be able to welcome back former Burton left/centre back, Jake Buxton. Shaun Barker [Thigh], Dean Leacock h[Hamstring] and Miles Addison [Foot] are all likely to miss out meaning another loanee, Frederik Stoor, signed on a short term deal from Fulham will continue in the back four.

Watford have no such worries, only Ross Jenkins sidelined with a back problem, so the only changes from Monday’s victorious side will be the re-introduction of Heidar Helguson for Nathan Ellington and Jay DeMerit in for the now injured Craig Cathcart.

Likely Watford XI
Loach
Hodson Mariappa DeMerit (c) Doyley
Cleverley Cowie Eustace Harley
Helguson
Graham

Likely Derby County XI
Bywater
Connolly Stoor McEveley Moxey
Hendrie Green Savage (c) Pearson
Campbell Dickov

Form Guides
Watford:WWLLW
Derby: WLWDD

Prediction
With only three points on the road, it looks likely Watford will claim all three today, but there’s no guarantee as the Rams have a vastly experienced side.