3/1 To Win
The Rams will be aiming to sign off for the next international break with a 100 per cent record from the latest batch of matches when they take on Reading at Pride Park Stadium.
Derby County have won their last four games to shoot into the play-off positions and ahead of another big Sky Bet Championship fixture, dcfc.co.uk has pulled together all the key information you are going to need to know…
WHAT’S THE LATEST TEAM NEWS?
David Nugent and Johnny Russell are in line for a return to action when Derby County face Reading at Pride Park Stadium.
The former missed the trip to Leeds United through illness, whilst the latter has been struggling with a groin problem after slipping in training.
There are, however, doubts over Joe Ledley.
The 30-year-old picked up a slight hamstring strain in the win at Leeds and Gary Rowett, the Derby boss, described him as ‘touch and go’ for the weekend.
Mason Bennett and Darren Bent remain ruled out of action.
Read Rowett’s full team news review here.
WHAT DID THE BOSS HAVE TO SAY?
Speaking to RamsTV ahead of this weekend’s meeting with Reading, Gary Rowett said: “If we can go to Saturday and get another result it will have been an incredibly fruitful period.
“The results we’ve had lately will take us into a good period regardless of the result on Saturday, but it would be nice to top it off with a good result.
“We can’t go into any game with any sort of complacency about us. We have to make sure we continue to do the right things and work incredibly hard.”
“The Leeds game was our toughest so far in the sense we ran the most we have all season and our high intensity was first-class; so we have to make sure we’re ready for another big game.”
On the Royal’s, he added: “I know Reading haven’t had the best of starts to the season but they’ve picked up a bit recently under Jaap Stam and got a good win in midweek against Forest.
“They are a team that’s always going to test you as they are possession based team and have some excellent players.”
WHO IS THE PLAYER TO WATCH?
An England U21 international, John Swift has established himself as a key figure in the Reading midfield after joining from Chelsea in the summer of 2016.
With the Blues, he went on to lift the FA Youth Cup in 2012, playing his part in a 4-0 first leg victory against Blackburn Rovers that would be enough to earn him his first piece of silverware in his career.
Swift helped Chelsea’s Under-21s claim the Premier League title in 2013/14, scoring nine goals in 26 appearances for the Blues. He would then make his professional bow as an 18-year-old, coming off the bench to replace Eden Hazard in a 2-1 win for Chelsea against Cardiff in May 2014.
He enjoyed spells with Rotherham United and Swindon Town the following season, helping the latter reach the League One Play-Off Final in 2015. Swift then linked up with Brentford for 2015/16, making a big impression at Griffin Park.
The Portsmouth-born playmaker scored seven goals in 23(+4) league appearances whilst on loan with Brentford, including a brace against Wolves and a final day of the season strike at Huddersfield Town on his final appearance for the Bees in May.
On the international scene, Swift has represented England from Under-16 through to Under-21 level and he recently helped Gareth Southgate’s men to Toulon Tournament triumph out in Avignon – playing a part in a 4-0 win over Paraguay, a 1-0 win against Japan and the 2-1 victory over France in the final back in May.
His first season as a Reading player was a successful one. He scored a total of nine goals in 2016/17, including spectacular efforts against Preston and Barnsley.
An injury suffered whilst on international duty with England's Under-21s (whom he helped reach the European Championships with another long-range effort out of the very top drawer) meant he missed a couple of months towards the end of the calendar year, but the midfield maestro came back strong to help Jaap Stam's side cement a play-off place and a trip to Wembley.
HOW YOU CAN SECURE YOUR SEAT?
The matchday ticket prices have been confirmed for Derby County’s Sky Bet Championship encounter against Reading this afternoon.
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 - £23
Senior Citizens (aged 65+) – £16
Under 18s - £13
2 to 12 Year Olds - £8
* Category D & E prices are listed above.
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.
WHAT’S TO COME IN THE RAM?
Derby County’s skipper Richard Keogh sat down for an in-depth interview ahead of this weekend’s Remembrance Day edition of The Ram.
The Club captain took time out to reflect on his Derby career to date, his blossoming partnership with Curtis Davies at centre back, the season so far and life on the international stage as he prepares to link up with Republic of Ireland next week for a crucial two-legged play-off with Denmark to reach next summer’s FIFA World Cup Finals.
As ever, supporters can purchase a copy of our award-winning official matchday programme, which retails at just £3 from all around Pride Park Stadium.
On top of that, here’s what else you can expect from our #DCFCvRFC edition of The Ram…
WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST TIME WE MET?
DERBY COUNTY 3-2 READING
Saturday 21st January 2017
Derby County recovered from a goal down to defeat Reading 3-2 when the sides last met at Pride Park Stadium in January.
Will Hughes struck on his 150th start for the Rams, scoring the vital third goal after finishes from Darren Bent and Tom Ince had cancelled out John Swift’s early opener.
Yakou Meite’s header with 10 minutes remaining set up a grandstand finish, but after Jordan Obita was given his marching orders deep into six minutes of added time, Derby saw the contest out to ensure they returned to winning ways with a seventh win in nine on home soil.
Derby County: Carson, Baird, Keogh (C), Pearce, Olsson; de Sart, Bryson (Christie, 87), Hughes; Ince, Russell (Shackell, 90), Bent (Vydra, 88)
Substitutes not used: Roos, Camara, Hanson, Vernam
Reading: Al-Habsi, Gunter, McShane (C), Swift (Samuel, 75), Obita, McCleary, Moore (Meite, 75), Kermorgant, Ilori, Williams, Kelly
Substitutes not used: Jaakkola, Van den Berg, Evans, Blackett, Watson
Attendance: 28,393 (838 away supporters)
WHO ARE THE MATCH OFFICIALS?
Keith Stroud will take charge of Derby County's 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship fixture at home to Reading on Saturday.
Stroud has overseen six games so far this season, producing a total of 27 yellow cards and three reds.
His last Derby game was the 2-1 home win over Barnsley back in March of this year.
Stroud will be assisted by John Flynn and Matt Foley on the lines, whilst Robert Lewis has been appointed as the fourth official.
HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE ACTION?
Once again, supporters based outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland will be able to watch every kick of the action from Derby’s meeting with the Royals.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect from our #DCFCvRFC production:
FRIDAY
- The Pre-Match Press Conference (12pm) – You have seen our interviews, but what was said to the local and national media? You can find out by watching Gary Rowett’s and Scott Carson’s pre-match press conference, in full, only on RamsTV!
- The Reading Preview Show (6pm) Host Owen Bradley is joined in the RamsTV studio by club ambassadors Roy McFarland and Roger Davies to look ahead to the visit of Jaap Stam’s Reading.
- Pre-Reading Fans Reactions (7pm) – Kim Birtwistle headed out into Derby city centre to get the score predictions of Derby supporters ahead of Saturday’s game.
- The Last Three (7:30pm) – Look back on the extended highlights from Derby County’s last three meetings with Reading, in which the Rams are unbeaten.
SATURDAY
- U18s Matchday Live (10:55am) – Before a ball is even kicked at Pride Park Stadium, RamsTV will be crossing over LIVE to the Training Centre in partnership with the University of Derby where Derby County’s Under-18s will take on West Bromwich Albion, kick-off: 11am.
- Reading Matchday Live (2:15pm) – Owen Bradley is back in the RamsTV studio and is joined by Michael Johnson, ex Royals winger Stephen Hunt, and Rams forward Darren Bent to bring you the final preview ahead of Derby’s meeting with the Royals.
- Matchday Live will be the only place supporters will be able to catch the final pre-match interview with Gary Rowett ahead of kick-off (3pm).
- If you are based in the UK and Republic of Ireland you will be able to listen to live audio commentary from BBC Radio Derby, whilst overseas subscribers will be able to watch every kick of the action – with Jack Woodward and Shane Nicholson providing commentary.
SUNDAY
- Match Highlights and our Matchday Live Re-Watch will be available to view for supporters in the UK the day after each first-team fixture on 12pm across dcfc.co.uk and RamsTV.
MONDAY
- The Reading Review Show (6pm) Owen Bradley will be joined by club ambassadors Roy McFarland and Marc Edworthy in the RamsTV studio to analyse Derby’s meeting with the Royals and their latest batch fixtures from the past month.
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 Match Streaming (outside UK) - £110 annual subscription or £12.50 per month
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.
