Derby Gear Up For Chelsea Test

A trip to Stamford Bridge and a clash with Chelsea is next on the agenda for Derby County’s Under-23s on Friday evening as they go in search of their first Premier League 2 Division 1 win, kick-off: 7:05pm.

The Rams take on the Blues at the home of the reigning Premier League champions in their second match of this week and ahead of tonight’s match, dcfc.co.uk has pulled together all the information you are going to need to know ahead of kick-off…

WHAT’S THE LATEST TEAM NEWS?

Gary Rowett has confirmed that George Thorne and Jason Shackell are likely to step up their fitness and feature for the Under-23s against Chelsea.

The pair recently returned to training after recovering from a hamstring and back injury respectively.

And Rowett, the Derby manager, has now confirmed that the next step for them now is to get match minutes under their belts.

He told RamsTV: “We felt as though it might have been the game at Pride Park that both George Thorne and Jason Shackell would have played in because their rehabilitation has gone quite well.

“The training load that they’ve done out on the pitches has been really good I think they are up to a point now where both, barring any set-backs, should feature against Chelsea.”

On top of that, Darren Wassall will be hoping to call on the services of Max Bird and Kellan Gordon when his side return to action on Friday night.

The pair were forced off prematurely in the 3-2 defeat to Arsenal earlier this week.

Bird, the first-year scholar, felt the effects of a heavy collision after 30 minutes, whilst Gordon, who opened the scoring against the Gunners, sustained a muscle injury just before half-time.

Wassall, however, is hoping the pair will be passed fit to be part of his matchday squad at Stamford Bridge.

SETTING THE SCENE

One game in, Derby County’s Under-23s will be aiming to get their season up and running with their first victory when they take on Chelsea – the team they defeated on the final day of the 2016/17 campaign back in May to retain their Premier League 2 Division 1 status.

The Rams fell to a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal at St George’s Park on Monday night – their first match of the new 2017/18 season.

Wassall’s side led by two goals at the hour, thanks to Kellan Gordon’s and Emil Riis Jakobsen’s cool finishes, before the Gunners fought back through Reiss Nelson’s double and Eddie Nketiah’s late winner.

The Rams had chances aplenty – and hit the woodwork twice – over the course of the night and all the talk after the full-time whistle was about the need to add a ruthless touch in the final third to avoid being punished by the division’s top sides.

Arsenal’s clinical finishing proved to be the difference on Monday night and Timi Max Elsnik, who believes Derby have shown a number of good qualities so far, has expressed the importance of Wassall’s side making sure they take their chances in the upcoming games.

He told RamsTV: “It was a very tough defeat to take for us. It was a very different challenge, a big game to open the season with and Arsenal had some of their star players starting too.

“I thought we did well. With the amount of chances that we had, the game was there for the taking and there was no-one else we can blame for not winning but ourselves.

“We need to take more of the chances and when we start doing that again, I feel the wins will start coming because we are showing a lot of good things at the moment.

“Against Chelsea, and in the coming games after that, if we can create that amount of chances again then we will win more than we lose.

“We won’t have this problem in every game where we are denied by the post, the crossbar or a number of good saves from a ‘keeper. More of those chances will turn to goals, I’m sure of that.”

Look out for Timi Max Elsnik's full pre-match interview across dcfc.co.uk on Friday morning.

HOW CAN I ATTEND?

Derby County have arranged one free coach for fans who wish to support the club’s Under-23s face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The coach will depart from outside the main reception at Pride Park Stadium at 1pm and those wishing to make the trip to the capital need to pick up a coach ticket in advance from the Ticket Office.

Ticket details were also confirmed ahead of the match against the Blues.

An allocation of 200 was made available to Rams supporters and the prices were confirmed as follows:

Adults - £5
Senior Citizens (65+) £3
Under-20s - £3

This is an all ticket fixture and supporters will NOT be able to buy tickets on the day of the game.

Any Derby supporter wishing to secure a ticket at Stamford Bridge can do so by heading to dcfc.co.uk or by buying them in person at DCFC Ticket Office at Pride Park Stadium or by calling 0871 472 1884 (option 1).

* Calls cost 13p per minute, plus your phone company's access charge.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME?

CHELSEA U23s 2-2 DERBY COUNTY U23s
Monday 24th October, 2016

Derby County’s Under 23s recovered from a goal down to secure a 2-2 draw from a dramatic Premier League 2 Division 1 meeting when they last travelled to face Chelsea back in October 2016.

Callum Guy’s goal was the only thing that separated the two sides after a tight first 45 minutes at the EBB Stadium, Aldershot, as he tucked in a loose ball after Charles Vernam’s penalty had been saved.

The Blues, however, bounced back in ruthless fashion after introducing Dujon Sterling and scored twice in as many minutes to turn the contest on its head, first through Jay Dasilva’s spot kick and then Iké Ugbo.

That didn’t last long either as the superb Farrend Rawson, Derby’s captain, rose highest to meet Guy’s corner and head the ball into the back of the net.

Chelsea U23s: Collins, Dabo, Zouma (Sterling, 46), Tomori, T. Chalobah, Scott, Ali, Sammut (Muheim, 80), Ugbo, Christie-Davies (Mount, 74), Dasilva

Substitutes not used: Baxter, Maddox

Derby County U23s: Mitchell, Stabana, Rawson, Lelan, Macdonald (Cover, 63); Hanson, Guy, Elsnik (Babos, 77); Gordon, Vernam, Bennett (Walker, 90)

Substitutes not used: Ravas, Jakobsen

HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE ACTION?