Derby County return to action on Sunday with their eyes firmly fixed on sealing their Sky Bet Championship play-off spot when they take on Barnsley.
The Rams know a draw will confirm a top-six finish (kick-off: 12:30pm) and dcfc.co.uk has collated all the information you need ahead of the visit of Joe Morais’ men…
WHAT’S THE LATEST TEAM NEWS
Gary Rowett told the media on Thursday that he has no new fresh injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Barnsley.
Ikechi Anya returned to light training ahead of the fixture, but is unlikely to make his return at the weekend.
Sam Winnall remains ruled out.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY?
Speaking to RamsTV ahead of the weekend’s game, Gary Rowett said: “The point we got at Aston Villa last weekend has given us the opportunity to finish in the top six with a draw or a win this weekend.
“We can’t go out for a draw, it’s as simple as that. We have to be on the front foot and try and win the game.
“Like the Cardiff game in my opinion, we have to leave everything out on the pitch. We have given ourselves a fantastic opportunity.
“When you think to those moments earlier in the season after the games at Sheffield United and Bristol City we would have been very pleased to be in sixth place and where we are.
“The last three performances, in different ways, have been incredibly positive. It feels like there’s a good vibe around the place and that’s good.
“I know you can go into that last game of the season feeling nervous and not in good form, but it’s the opposite for us at the moment. I think we’re all excited and looking forward to it; we are all very confident.”
ONE TO WATCH
The fact that Oli McBurnie was named as Barnsley’s Player of the Year despite only playing 15 matches, tells you all you need to know about the impact he has had at Oakwell.
The 21-year-old on-loan Swansea City forward has scored nine goals, giving the Tykes a big chance of beating the drop heading into this final game of the regular season.
Leeds native McBurnie began his career with Bradford City back in 2013, but Swansea City were quick to snap up his promising services two years later.
A couple of loan spells came next, with most notably Newport County where he scored a league hat-trick on debut.
Having played a part in Swansea's early Premier League fixtures, McBurnie joined the Reds on loan towards the end of the January transfer window.
HOW DO I SECURE MY SEAT
The matchday ticket prices have been confirmed for Derby County’s Sky Bet Championship meeting with Barnsley at Pride Park Stadium, kick-off: 12:30pm.
Ticket prices are increased on the day of a game, so pre-purchasing prior to matchdays is recommended.
Tickets are available for Derby County supporters from:
Adults - £29
Senior Citizens (aged 65+) – £20.50
Under-18s - £16.50
2 to 12 Year Olds - £10
* Category D & E prices are listed above.
A £1 per ticket booking fee applies when purchasing by either telephone or online.
For matchday ticket enquiries and purchases, please visit the Ticket Office at Pride Park Stadium or call 0871 472 1884 (option 1).
Alternatively, supporters can also buy tickets online right here on dcfc.co.uk.
* Calls cost 13p per minute, plus your phone company's access charge.
LAP OF APPRECIATION PLANNED
Derby County’s players and management would like to thank supporters for their tremendous backing this season by completing a Lap of Appreciation at the conclusion of Sunday’s meeting with Barnsley.
As a gesture of gratitude, they will return to the playing surface shortly after the full-time whistle has been blown – but will only be able to do so if the pitch remains clear.
With this in mind, Derby County is requesting that supporters stay off the pitch at end of Sunday’s Sky Bet Championship fixture at Pride Park Stadium.
The club is calling on Rams fans to respect the ground regulations and consider the potential wider consequences of such action to themselves and Derby County.
The safety of players, managers, fans and match officials is of paramount importance and supporters who encroach on the pitch risk facing banning orders as well as a criminal conviction, while the club could also face a fine.
We therefore ask that you support us in this way and remain in the stands at all times.
WHAT’S TO COME IN THE RAM
Derby County supporters will be able to read an in-depth and exclusive interview with the club’s Executive Chairman Mel Morris, CBE, in Sunday’s latest instalment of The Ram.
Spanning over eight pages, and split over three defining topics, the club’s owner gave us his thoughts on the 2017/18 season, discusses his relationship with Gary Rowett, the future model of the football club, the progress of the Academy and the work that will take place this summer.
It is an interview that anyone associated with Derby County will not want to miss!
Jam-packed, as ever, with that and more exclusive features and content, supporters can purchase a copy of our 76-page official matchday programme for just £3 from all around Pride Park Stadium.
Click here for a full review of what other content you can expect to find in your Barnsley edition of The Ram
OUR LAST MEETING WITH THE TYKES?
BARNSLEY 0-3 DERBY COUNTY
Saturday 9th December 2017
Derby County extended their unbeaten league run away from home to seven games with a comprehensive 3-0 victory against Barnsley at Oakwell.
Tom Lawrence broke the deadlock with his second goal of the season before the in-form Matej Vydra doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time, with Andreas Weimann wrapping up the points in the second half.
Barnsley: Davies; McCarthy, Pearson, Lindsay, Yiadom; Potts (Hammill, 60), Williams, Gardner (Moncur, 60); Thiam (Ugbo, 72), Bradshaw, Barnes
Substitutes not used: Townsend, Mallan, Fryers, McGeehan
Derby County: Carson; Baird, Keogh, Davies, Forsyth; Huddlestone, Ledley; Weimann, Vydra (Johnson, 72), Lawrence (Russell, 46); Martin (Winnall, 80)
Substitutes not used: Mitchell, Wisdom, Thorne, Nugent
WHO’S THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE?
Simon Hooper will be the man in the middle when Derby County host Barnsley in their final fixture of the regular 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship campaign on Sunday, kick-off: 12:30pm.
Hooper has officiated 40 games so far this term, mainly in the Sky Bet Championship. from which he has produced 124 yellow and six red cards.
This match will be the fourth involving the Rams that he has taken charge of this campaign after he was the man in the middle for their away victories over Leeds United (2-1) and Middlesbrough (3-0) and the 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers.
In total, this weekend’s referee has officiated 15 matches involving Derby and during that time six wins, seven defeats and two draws have been recorded.
Hooper will be assisted by Daniel Robathan and Nigel Lugg on the lines, whilst Graham Salisbury has been appointed as the fourth official.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
RamsTV’s Matchday Live programme on Sunday starts at 11.45am and sees Owen Bradley joined in the Pride Park studio by Michael Johnson and a man who has scored goals for both the Rams and the Tykes, Sam Winnall.
Supporters based outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland will then be able to watch the entire game which kicks-off at 12:30pm.
Here’s a full rundown of what’s coming up on RamsTV:
ONLINE NOW
- Pre-Match Interviews: Barnsley – RamsTV sits down with Gary Rowett and ‘keeper Scott Carson to discuss Derby’s final league game proper of the 2017/18 season.
- Pre-match Press Conference: Barnsley - Gary Rowett and Tom Huddlestone face the media ahead of the crunch clash with Barnsley.
- The Preview Show: Barnsley (6pm) – Owen Bradley is joined by former Rams Roger Davies and Shane Nicholson as they analyse what it will take for the Rams to secure that all important Play Off spot.
- The Last Meeting: Barnsley (6pm) – The best of RamsTV’s coverage of Derby’s trip to Oakwell earlier this season when three goals meant the Rams brought back all three points.
SUNDAY
- Matchday Live: Barnsley (11.45am) – A lunchtime kick off means an early start for RamsTV. Join Owen Bradley, Michael Johnson and Sam Winnall as they build up to kick off at 12.30pm.
- International RamsTV subscribers will be able to watch the full game with live commentary as well as half-time and full-time analysis from the RamsTV studio.
MONDAY
- Match Highlights: Barnsley (12pm) – Relive all the goals, key moments and incidents from the game the day before.
- Matchday Relived: Barnsley (6pm) – A chance to catch RamsTV’s entire Matchday Live production from the day before, including pre-match build-up and match action along with half and full time analysis.
The RamsTV streaming service is available to all supporters who register on dcfc.co.uk.
To access the full RamsTV streaming service will cost the following:
First-Team Audio Commentary (worldwide) - £45 annual subscription or £5 per month
First-Team Pay Per Game - Match Streaming (outside UK) - £5 for the individual game
A link to packages can be found here.
The two premium services are in addition to the regular pre-match and post-match interviews on RamsTV.
Supporters will also be able to follow all of the action, as usual, across our social media channels.
We will be providing behind the scenes content across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, where we will also provide a blow-by-blow account of proceedings at Pride Park Stadium.