3/1 To Win
Buoyed by back-to-back wins, Derby County will be looking to make it three when they take on the league leaders on Wednesday evening.
The Rams travel to Molineux to face Wolverhampton Wanderers (kick-off: 7:45pm) and here, dcfc.co.uk has collated all the information you need ahead of the clash with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side…
WHAT’S THE LATEST TEAM NEWS
As was the case ahead of the Bolton Wanderers, Gary Rowett will be without four first team players ahead of this latest fixture.
Bradley Johnson, Ikechi Anya and Marcus Olsson continue to be ruled out of action.
Sam Winnall remains a long-term absentee, but that aside, the Rams will travel with a similar squad to the one fielded against Bolton.
WHAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF THE TRIP TO WOLVES?
Speaking to RamsTV ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Molineux, Gary Rowett said: “They have been the best side this season in my opinion.
“They have ground games out recently that they haven’t played as well in, and we will go there with an eye on what other teams have done to make it difficult for them.
“Hull got a really good result and other teams have beaten them, but they don’t slip up very often, so we have to be at the top of our game.
“Our away form has been fantastic, we have only lost three games all season, so it will be a very good test off the back of two wins, and we will go there with positivity.
“Any game is an opportunity to keep the players at their maximum. We can’t take anything for granted, whether you’re playing a team at home that you’re expected to beat or top of the league away from home.
“You have to keep your standards up to get any result. We showed a real hunger and drive to work harder than the opposition, and we’re going to have to do that out of possession.”
ONE TO WATCH
His signing came as a big statement of intent in the Sky Bet Championship this summer, but Ruben Neves has certainly lived up to the hype in his debut season in England.
Arriving as a new club record transfer from FC Porto, the Portuguese international midfielder’s stellar performances have seen him nominated for the EFL Championship Player of the Season award as Wolves continue to close in on promotion back to the top-flight.
In 37 games, the 21-year-old has scored five goals – all from the outside of the box, the highest number for the division.
Neves signed a five-year deal at Molineux, having played under Nuno Espirito Santo at the Estadio do Dragao.
The youngster came through at Porto and made 67 senior appearances for the Primeira Liga side.
International honours followed, with Neves making his way up the age groups of Portugal to earn his first full cap in 2015.
In the same year, Neves became the youngest captain in Champions League history as he led Porto out against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
HOW I CAN SECURE MY SEAT
Derby County supporters wanting to watch Gary Rowett's side in action this evening are being urged to purchase their ticket before 4pm on Wednesday.
The club confirmed on Monday that there would be no pay on the day option available to Rams fans – meaning tickets can only be pre-purchased from the DCFC Ticket Office in association with Showcase Cinema de lux.
Supporters who do not get their ticket before this time are being urged not to travel to Molineux
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME OUT?
WOLVES 2-3 DERBY COUNTY
Saturday 5th November, 2016
Derby County recorded back-to-back wins for the first time of the 2016/17 season as they edged out 3-2 winners after an enthralling meeting with Wolves at Molineux back in November 2016.
The Rams hit the gas early on and established a two-goal cushion in the West Midlands as Tom Ince and Darren Bent struck in the opening 15 minutes of the contest.
The Rams should have gone into the half-time interval out of sight but could not add to their two goals despite a hatful of chances, leaving the door ajar for the hosts in the second 45 minutes.
Much better, Wolves did hit back as Hélder Costa and David Edwards struck and had two penalty claims waved away late on, but Ince’s own spot kick conversion in between those finishes proved to be crucial as Derby entered the third international break of the campaign on a winning note.
Wolves: Lonergan, Doherty, Iorfa, Batth (C), Borthwick-Jackson; Coady (Wallace, 89), Teixeira (Saville, 32), Edwards; Costa, Cavaleiro, Bodvarsson (Dicko, 68)
Substitutes not used: Flatt, Silvio, Stearman, Saiss
Derby County: Carson, Christie (Hanson, 47), Keogh (C), Pearce, Lowe; Johnson, Butterfield, Hughes (Bryson, 90); Ince, Russell, Bent (Vydra, 85)
Substitutes not used: Mitchell, Shackell, Anya, Weimann
Attendance: 19,858 (1,309 away supporters)
WHO’S THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE?
Tim Robinson will be the man in the middle when Derby County make the short journey across the Midlands to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night.
Robinson has officiated 42 games so far this term, the majority coming in the Sky Bet Championship. from which he has produced 138 yellow and 11 red cards.
This match will be the second involving the Rams that he has been appointed for this term, after he was also appointed for the 3-0 win over Barnsley back in December.
Robinson will be assisted by Andrew Fox and Ian Cooper on the lines, whilst Simon Hooper has been appointed as the fourth official.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION?
As this fixture has been selected for live TV coverage and due to international broadcasting rights, RamsTV will only be able to broadcast the match live in select countries, although a live audio stream of the game will also be available. Please click here for more information.
Here’s a full rundown of what’s coming up on RamsTV:
ONLINE NOW
- Pre-Match Press Conference – Full coverage as Gary Rowett and a member of his first team squad face questions from the media.
- The Bolton Wanderers Review Show (6pm) – Owen Bradley will be joined by Shane Nicholson and Roy McFarland as they analyse Derby’s performance against Bolton at the weekend before turning their attention to what it will take to beat league leaders Wolves on Wednesday night.
- Pre-Match Interviews – Gary Rowett and one of his players take time out from training to talk to RamsTV about the upcoming trip to Molineux.
WEDNESDAY
- Matchday Live: Wolverhampton Wanderers Vs Derby County (7pm) – Owen Bradley will be joined LIVE in the RamsTV Studio by special guests as they cover all the key talking points leading up to kick-off (7.45pm).
- Due to international broadcasting rights, RamsTV will be streaming the game live only in select countries, click here for more information, RamsTV subscribers will be able to listen to audio coverage of the game and also watch extended highlights and a replay of the full 90 minutes the following day.
- Post-Match Extra: Wolverhampton Wanderers (10.15pm approx.) – RamsTV’s interactive Facebook Live show will feature the thoughts of Rams fans as well as a post-match reaction from manager Gary Rowett.
THURSDAY
- Match Highlights: Wolverhampton Wanderers (12pm) – All the goals and key incidents from the evening before will feature in RamsTV’s extended highlights package.
- Matchday Relived: Wolverhampton Wanderers (7pm) – Watch the entirety of RamsTV’s matchday production including the full 90 minutes of action along with the pre-game, half time and full time analysis from the team in the RamsTV studio.
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 Molineux.
