3/1 To Win
Derby County will return to action at Pride Park Stadium for the first time in almost four months, following the suspension of the 2019/20 season owing to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, when they face Reading this weekend.
Phillip Cocu’s side will return to action on home turf, for the first time since early March, against the Royals on Saturday (1pm kick-off).
Derby have eight matches left to play in the league campaign and they will be looking to maintain their fine run of form after recording three successive league wins to push themselves into the play-off race.
dcfc.co.uk has gathered all the information you will need ahead of this weekend's against Reading.
WATCH THE GAME LIVE ON RAMSTV…
Supporters can once again watch the action live from the comfort of their own home with RamsTV.
.jpg)
Saturday’s game will again be available to watch LIVE in the UK and around the world on RamsTV, via dcfc.co.uk or through the Official Derby County App.
Supporters can purchase access Saturday's game NOW by clicking here.
Content will be available from earlier in the day before the RamsTV Matchday Live show begins at 12:30pm to provide fans with comprehensive and unrivalled coverage.
Supporters watching on RamsTV are advised to ensure their current details are registered with dcfc.co.uk, and to ensure the following:
- You know your Derby County 8-digit Fan ID
- Your account details with dcfc.co.uk are up to date
- You know your email address registered with dcfc.co.uk
- You know your account password registered with dcfc.co.uk
- You have redeemed your RamsTV voucher code (if you didn’t do so for the Millwall game)
- You are logged into your account well in advance of kick-off to avoid potential matchday streaming issues. RamsTV content will be streaming from earlier in the day and the Matchday Live build-up starts at 12:30pm.
Supporters
who have redeemed their voucher code already do not need to do anything
other than login to their account early ahead of kick-off. Any
supporters who have not redeemed their voucher code can still do so but
are advised to do this as soon as possible.
And fans who want to purchase RamsTV access for Saturday’s game against Reading but are yet to register on dcfc.co.uk will need their 8-digit Fan ID, Name, Address, Postcode and a valid email address not already registered with an account, but are again advised to do this as soon as possible.
The RamsTV Matchday Live show includes:
* Full match streamed LIVE and in HD
* A multi-camera mix covering all the action
* Instant and multi-angle replays
* Full match commentary with expert analysis
* Match graphics
* A full 30-minute pre-match show with interviews, exclusive features, and lively studio discussion
* Expert half-time and post-match analysis
Streaming passes for the one-off PPV are available for £10 in the UK and £5 for Overseas.
Supporters can purchase access to the game now by clicking here.
RAMSTV STREAMING QUESTIONS…
Head over to dcfc.co.uk's FAQs relating to RamsTV live streams, simply by clicking here.
For any additional queries relating to login and account creation on dcfc.co.uk, please email [email protected]
TEAM NEWS…
Manager Phillip Cocu has a near fully fit squad to call upon once again following last weekend's 3-2 victory at Millwall.
Youngster Louie Sibley netting a stunning hat-trick at The Den and Cocu may be tempted to stick with the same starting XI that produced an impressive display against the Lions.
Duane Holmes made his comeback from injury in the game and was named in the starting line-up and the USA international provided another option for Cocu to call upon in attack.
Striker Jack Marriott will miss out once again as he has a groin injury which has required surgery. He could miss the rest of the season, depending on how his rehabilitation work progresses.
Polish international midfielder Krystian Bielik remains out of action with a long-term knee injury which he sustained back in January.
Bielik is making good progress in his rehabilitation programme but will remain sidelined for the remainder of the season.
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS…
Speaking to RamsTV ahead of this weekend's game, manager Phillip Cocu said: “It is a very important game for us; we had a good start against Millwall last week, we needed it, but with only eight games left we have a big challenge ahead of us.
“If we want to close the gap on the teams above us, we know we have to win again at home. It is the only way forward for us.
“The spirits are high in the team, with some confidence too, and we know that if we can play like we did last week we will give ourselves a chance to get a good result.”
Cocu added: “I said it last week; the first three games after the restart are important for us. We got a good result against Millwall and now we have Reading and Preston coming up – we have something to fight for and we will.
“We all know every game is a challenge, with no easy opponents. We have to focus on one game at a time, you cannot think too far ahead, and we need to give all our energy to try and win this weekend.”
More pre-match comments from Derby's manager, and defender Andre Wisdom, can be found across dcfc.co.uk and also on RamsTV.
NEW SUBSTITUTE RULES…
There's a new matchday rule in place for the final nine games of the 2019/20 season when it comes to substitutes in games, which was utilised for the first time last weekend.
- Each team will have a maximum of three opportunities to make substitutions
- If both teams make a substitution at the same time, this will count as one of the three opportunities for each team.
- In a normal 90 minute fixture, once all three opportunities have been used, no further substitutions can be made.
- Unused substitutions and opportunities are carried forward into extra time, where applicable.
- Where Competition rules allow an additional substitution in extra time, teams will each have one additional substitution opportunity; substitutions may also be made before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.
WHO’S THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Scott Duncan will be the man in the middle at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Duncan has overseen just one EFL game this season, Cheltenham Town's 0-0 draw against Port Vale in League 2 back in March, but is an experienced match official.
Over the course of last season he took charge of 34 games, producing a total of 109 yellow cards and nine red cards.
His last match in charge of Derby came in the early stages of last season in a 1-0 defeat away to Bolton Wanderers.
Duncan's last match at Pride Park Stadium was a 2-0 home victory over Ipswich Town in August 2018.
He will be assisted by Robert Hyde and Andrew Garratt on the lines, whilst Jarred Gillett has been appointed as the fourth official.
NEW BACK OF SHIRT LOGO…
Derby County are to pay tribute to key workers across Derbyshire in the remaining matches of the 2019/20 Sky Bet Championship season.
The back of the Rams’ shirts will proudly display the logo of Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity, and the shirts will be auctioned off at the end of the season to help raise funds for the charity.
Derby County’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Pearce said: “We’re delighted to be showcasing the Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity logo on the back of our match shirts for the rest of the season.
“In addition to our Stay Safe. Stay Fit. Stay Connected initiative, we wanted to find another way to express gratitude and appreciation to key workers across our local community for the outstanding work that they have done, and continue to do, during the COVID-19 crisis, and help raise awareness and funds for the charity.”
Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity provide support for all the sites of the sites under the University of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, including Derby, Burton, Lichfield and Tamworth to provide the highest quality care to patients across southern Derbyshire and south east Staffordshire.
The NHS Trust aims to deliver outstanding care for local people and bring together the expertise of their 12,000 staff across the hospital sites.
The charity’s key aim is to help make patients’ lives better and the amazing donations and support from the local community enables the charity to help provide the extras that cannot be provided from NHS statutory funding but make a huge difference to patients and staff.
Tim Diggle, Director of Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity, said: “It was amazing to hear that Derby County wanted to feature us on their shirts and we are immensely proud to see our logo on the back of such a beloved part of the Derby community.
"It is inspiring to see, and we are so grateful to the club for wanting to say thank you to our fantastic NHS team.
"All of us have been touched by this pandemic in one way or another and to see the club work together with its local NHS lifts the heart.”
All the money raised goes back into the hospital, with 100% of the donation going to the charity, and those supporting Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity have the opportunity to truly support a ward or department close to their heart, as they have over 100 separate funds to choose from.
More details about Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity (Charity No.1061812) can be found at dbhc.org.uk.
THANK YOU TO THE NHS…
Players from across the Championship will wear shirts featuring an ‘NHS Rainbow – Thank You’ emblem for the rest of the season
Over the past three months, the EFL, its clubs and Club Community Organisations have paid their own special tributes, with many working closely alongside their local NHS Trusts, donating resources, providing facilities for use and organising player or manager content to say thank you.
TEMPORARY RULE CHANGES…
Some temporary rule changes and protocols will be in place for the remainder of the 2019/20 season across all EFL matches.
They include:
Walkout Protocol
- Players and Match Official entry will be staggered onto the pitch.
- There will be no handshakes. Players to take up on pitch positions in the same half as they warmed up ready for kick off.
Matchday Behaviour
- Social distancing measures should be maintained whenever possible including during goal celebrations, in the warm-up, when entering and leaving the pitch, and at all times with the Match Officials.
Technical Area
- Those in the technical area must behave in a responsible manner and maintain social distancing measures with the Fourth Official
STAY AT HOME…
Derby County has joined fellow EFL clubs in urging supporters to stay away from stadiums, and instead watch all remaining 2019/20 season matches from home.
All matches will be played behind closed doors between now and the end of the season with the safety of supporters, club personnel and the frontline services remaining the principle priority at this time.
Consequently, supporters will not be permitted entry to any area of the stadiums and extra security measures around the immediate area including car parks will be in place when staging matches.
Supporters are also urged to maintain social distancing guidelines and avoid congregating outside stadiums or gatherings to watch matches, as part of a new campaign message: ‘When we play, please stay away’ ahead of all EFL matches.
The club and the Derbyshire Constabulary are united in one message to fans - support the Rams by watching from home.
