Derby County are back in action at Pride Park
Stadium in the Sky Bet Championship on Friday night, kicking off the weekend's round of games with what looks set to be another exciting home fixture against Fulham (7:45pm kick-off).
Phillip Cocu’s side will be looking to maintain their impressive home form against Scott Parker's side, having won five and drawn one of their last six home matches.
Here, dcfc.co.uk has gathered all the information you will need ahead of the clash with the Cottagers.
TEAM NEWS…
Defender Andre Wisdom is fit and available for selection for Derby, having been forced off in the latter stages of last weekend's 1-1 draw at home to Huddersfield Town with a tight hamstring.
However, midfielder Duane Holmes will be out of action for several weeks with a lower leg injury sustained against the Terriers.
With Holmes sidelined, Jason Knight and Graeme Shinnie are pushing to come into the starting line-up.
Goalkeeper Ben Hamer is set to return to the side after missing the draw with his parent club Huddersfield last weekend under the terms of his season-long loan with the Rams.
George Evans is still building up his match fitness after two months out with a calf injury and he is set to feature for the Under-23s in their Premier League Cup tie against Birmingham City on Friday afternoon.
Elsewhere, Tom Huddlestone remains out with a calf problem and Krystian Bielik is out for the season with a knee injury.
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS…
Speaking to RamsTV ahead of Friday night's home fixture, manager Phillip Cocu said: “It is an important game for us. We lost when we played the away game against Fulham back in November and I think it was one of those games where we didn’t really give ourselves a chance to get a good result.
“Now we play at home at Pride Park and I think we are in a better place. We have a better shape, the confidence is better than when we played at Craven Cottage so it is a test.
“If we can get a good result, we can confirm that we are on the right track.”
He added: “It will be difficult because Fulham are a strong team. They have quality players individually but also as a team. They keep the ball well, their combination play. I am looking forward to this game.”
More pre-match thoughts from the Derby boss in the lead-up to Friday's clash with Fulham can be found across dcfc.co.uk and RamsTV.
HOW TO SECURE YOUR SEAT…
Tickets are still available for Friday night's game at Pride Park Stadium.
The matchday price increase on tickets will come into play at 10am on the day of the game, so supporters are advised to secure their seats as soon as possible.
Match Tickets for Home members start at:
* £8.00 Child (Age 2-12)
* £13.60 Youth (Age 13-17)
* £17.60 Young Adult (Age 18-21)
* £24.80 Adult (Age 22-64)
* £16.80 Senior (Age 65+)
Important! Home Membership benefits include: 20% Discount on General Public Match Ticket pricing; free ticket to a club selected match; early access to tickets prior to general public on-sale; and zero online booking fees. Click here for more information.
Match Tickets for General Public start at:
* £10.00 Child (Age 2-12)
* £17.00 Youth (Age 13-17)
* £22.00 Young Adult (Age 18-21)
* £31.00 Adult (Age 22-64)
* £21.00 Senior (Age 65+)
Tickets can be purchased without a booking fee from the Derby County Ticket Office, presented by SeatGeek, but are subject to £1 per ticket booking fee if purchased online or via phone 0871 472 1884 (calls cost 13p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge); and an additional £1 per transaction delivery fee is applicable for tickets posted. Buy your match tickets here.
And have you tried this season’s brand new matchday experience, the Captain's Club?
Offering one of the best views in the stadium from only £60 (+ VAT) including match ticket and unlimited chef’s buffet table, the Captain’s Club is a relaxed informal matchday hospitality experience in contemporary surroundings with regular visits from captains, past and present. Book the Captain’s Club here.
For more matchday hospitality options, please email hospitality@dcfc.co.uk or call 01332 821073.
Match Tickets and Matchday Hospitality subject to availability. Terms & Conditions apply.WHO’S THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Darren Bond will be the man in the middle for the Rams' clash with the Cottagers.
The
match will be Jones' second Derby fixture of the season after he
oversaw the 2-0 home win over Middlesbrough back in November.
He has overseen 24 matches so far this season, in all competitions, producing 87 yellows and one red card.
The red card was issued to Middlesbrough's George Saville in the Rams' victory over Jonathan Woodgate's side for a heavy challenge on Krystian Bielik.
Bond will be assisted by Mark Jones and Akil Howson on the lines, whilst Robert Jones has been appointed as the fourth official.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION…
Fans in select countries can watch Derby's clash with Fulham LIVE on RamsTV.
RamsTV’s Matchday Live pre-match show will begin from 7:15pm with Owen Bradley and guests building up to kick-off with the help of stats, analysis, pre-match interviews and lively discussion.
Martin Fisher and former Ram Shane Nicholson will then provide expert commentary as RamsTV provides full multi-camera coverage of all the action at Pride Park.
As this fixture has been selected for live international TV coverage, RamsTV will only be able to broadcast the match live in select countries. A list of these selected countries referred to as ‘dark markets’ can be found here.
Fans based in these dark market countries will be able to stream the game as part of their RamsTV subscription, or for the one-off pay-per-view price of £5.
A live audio stream of the game will be available for fans outside of the dark market countries, including the UK.
Full streaming options can be found here.
As always, all of RamsTV’s pre-match and post-match content, including Facebook Live shows ‘The Warm Up’ and ‘Added Time’, will be available to watch for FREE across the club’s website, official app, YouTube channel and social media platforms.
TACKLING DISCRIMINATION…
Derby County and fellow EFL clubs
are united in tackling discrimination and prejudiced behaviour in all
its forms and are reminding supporters that no forms of abuse will be
tolerated.
Everyone attending or taking part in a football match has the right to feel safe, valued and included and supporters are therefore being reminded of the positive steps that can be taken on matchdays.
Work is continuing with the Premier League and the Football Association to improve processes and procedures in place to address discrimination in stadiums, with commitments made to review how clubs sanction and educate offenders, tackle under-representation across all levels of the game and improve training provisions for stewards to ensure they are best equipped to recognise and respond to issues as they arise.
However, there is no room for complacency and the EFL and its clubs are reinforcing the collective approach to be taken under the header ‘Not today or any day’, if anyone experiences, or is subject to, discriminatory behaviour.
The EFL recommends the following methods:
1. Report it to a steward or Police Officer. Reporting incidents early helps Clubs to take immediate action.
2. Confidentially report it via the Kick It Out App, available on iPhone and Android
3. Report it to Kick it Out on Social media (@KickItOut), phone (0800 169 9414) or email (info@kickitout.org)
4. Via the Kick It Out website form at kickitout.org/forms/online-reporting-form.
In addition, clubs, players, managers and officials were also reminded of a matchday protocol introduced to domestic football ahead of the 2019/20 season, alongside The Football Association and the Premier League, in an attempt to ensure the matchday environment provides a positive experience for all.
The protocol is designed to ensure that incidents of abuse are effectively addressed, perpetrators are identified and dealt with, while at the same time make sure that the match is not unduly interrupted with a step by step guide mapped out to support participants take the right course of action in such a scenario.
Further details regarding the matchday protocol are available here: efl.com/news/2019/october/matchday-protocol---abusive-behaviour.