3/1 To Win
Back at Pride Park Stadium, Derby County will be aiming to show an immediate response to their first back-to-back defeats in the league this season when they take on Middlesbrough.
The Rams know a victory over Boro will see them leap back into the play-off positions (kick-off: 3pm) and dcfc.co.uk has collated all the information you need ahead of the visit of Tony Pulis’ men…
WHAT’S THE LATEST TEAM NEWS
Bradley Johnson and Marcus Olsson have both returned to training ahead of this weekend’s game against Middlesbrough.
Whether the pair are fit enough to return to the matchday fold is another question, but Gary Rowett is prepared to give the duo every opportunity to prove their fitness.
Kasey Palmer and Andreas Weimann have been struggling with knocks during the week – making them a doubt for the visit of Tony Pulis.
Ikechi Anya and Sam Winnall remain ruled out of action.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY?
Speaking to RamsTV ahead of the weekend’s game, Gary Rowett said: “We have to take the opportunity like we did against Preston and Bolton, but the nature of this league means that you can’t drop off for two games, and the nature of the last one puts everyone on a downer.
“We are in a scenario where we have four games to go – with three in a massive week - and we have to perform.
“We have been really positive this week and we have worked really hard, and that’s all we can do to put things right.”
ONE TO WATCH
Derby County are going to have to get to grips with one of the Sky Bet Championship’s most dangerous players at this time in Adama Traore this weekend.
Described as a revelation this term, he has always had searing pace and incredible close control but this season - and especially since the arrival of Tony Pulis - he has knitted that together with an increasingly effective awareness of space, team shape and discipline.
He has been effective with his final ball too and has already clocked up 10 assists and scored five goals since the turn of the year too – form which has seen him recently called up to the Spain Under-23s squad.
Traore’s career began with Barcelona, joining the Spanish giants at the age of eight, and he went on to make his debut for the Catalan side at 17.
In August 2015, Adama joined Aston Villa on a five-year deal. He made just a dozen appearances for The Villains, owing largely to an injury sustained during the New Year's Day clash at Sunderland in the 2015/16 season.
Adama made the move from Villa to Boro in the summer of 2016. It was a Deadline Day transfer, with Albert Adomah heading in the opposite direction. He made 32 appearances for the club in 2016/17.
HOW DO I SECURE MY SEAT
The matchday ticket prices have been confirmed for Derby County’s Sky Bet Championship meeting with Middlesbrough at Pride Park Stadium, kick-off: 3pm.
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 - £27
Senior Citizens (aged 65+) – £19.50
Under-18s - £15.50
2 to 12 Year Olds - £9
* 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.
WHAT’S TO COME IN THE RAM
After recently returning to the heart of the Derby County defence, Alex Pearce sat down for an in-depth interview with our award-winning matchday programme.
Spanning seven pages, the 29-year-old spoke about learning his trade with the record-breaking Reading team of 2005/06, playing for his country, his attitude on and off the pitch, why his goal against Bolton was so special and the Sky Bet Championship run-in.
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 Middlesbrough edition of The Ram.
OUR LAST MEETING WITH BORO?
MIDDLESBROUGH 0-3 DERBY COUNTY
Saturday 25th November 2017
Derby County produced a stunning away performance to record their first away win against Middlesbrough for nearly 18 years, as Matej Vydra’s hat-trick led the Rams to a dominant 3-0 victory back in November.
The Czech Republic international ran riot at the Riverside Stadium to extend Derby’s unbeaten run on the road to six games and reach double figures in the Sky Bet Championship this season after just 14 appearances.
The home side ended with 10 men after Daniel Ayala was dismissed for two bookable offences.
Middlesbrough: Randolph; Christie, Ayala, Gibson, Fabio; Forshaw, Clayton; Johnson (Traore, 55), Braithwaite (Fry, 67), Downing (Bamford, 79); Assombalonga
Substitutes not used: Dimi, Friend, Leadbitter, Fletcher
Derby County: Carson; Baird, Keogh, Davies, Forsyth; Huddlestone, Ledley (Russell, 84); Weimann, Vydra (Thorne, 66), Lawrence; Nugent (Martin, 66)
Substitutes not used: Mitchell, Wisdom, Pearce, Olsson
WHO’S THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE?
Lee Probert will be the man in the middle for the fourth time this season in a game involving Derby County when the Rams host Middlesbrough on Saturday, kick-off: 3pm.
Probert has officiated 27 matches this term with the majority coming in the Premier League while seven have come in the Sky Bet Championship, from which he has produced 51 yellow cards and four red cards.
He took charge of the Rams’ 2-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanders last week after officiating victories over Aston Villa and Birmingham City
In total, this weekend’s referee has officiated 12 matches involving Derby during his career, in which there have been five wins, two draw and five defeats tasted.
Probert will be assisted by Simon Beck and Andrew Garratt on the lines, whilst David Coote has been appointed as the fourth official.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Matchday Live on Saturday will start at 2.15pm with RamsTV’s Owen Bradley joined by guests for an in-depth look at both sides with the help of stats, interviews and match footage.
Supporters based outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland will then be able to watch the entire game which kicks-off at 3pm.
After the full-time whistle has blown, RamsTV will once again be the best place to go to for all the post-match reaction.
Here’s a full rundown of what’s coming up on RamsTV:
ONLINE NOW
- Pre-Match Interviews – RamsTV talks to manager Gary Rowett and former Middlesbrough player David Nugent about the upcoming match with Tony Pulis’ side at Pride Park.
- The Last Meeting: Middlesbrough – Relive the best of RamsTV’s coverage of Derby’s emphatic 3-0 win in the reverse fixture at the Riverside earlier this season.
- Pre-Match Press Conference: Middlesbrough (10am) – Full coverage as Gary Rowett and Matej Vydra answer questions from the local and national media ahead of Saturday’s match.
- The Preview Show: Middlesbrough (6pm) – Former Rams Roger Davies and Marc Edworthy join RamsTV’s Owen Bradley as they look at what it will take for Derby to claim all three points from Boro.
SATURDAY
- Matchday Live: Derby County Vs Middlesbrough (2:15pm) – Broadcast LIVE from RamsTV’s Pride Park Studio Owen Bradley and guests are set to take an in-depth look at both sides ahead of kick-off at 3pm.
- 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.
- Post-Match Extra: Middlesbrough (5:30pm approx.) – Have your say on the Derby’s performance against ‘Boro in RamsTV’s special interactive show broadcast on the club’s official Facebook page.
SUNDAY
- Match Highlights: Middlesbrough (12pm) – Relive all the goals, key moments and incidents from the game the day before.
- Matchday Relived: Middlesbrough (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.
MONDAY
- The Review Show: Middlesbrough (6pm) – Owen Bradley will be in the RamsTV studio once again, this time joined by Roy McFarland and Shane Nicholson as they analyse the Rams’ performance against ‘Boro, before looking ahead to the midweek clash with Cardiff City.
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.
