3/1 To Win
Derby County’s fixture list for the 2021/22 Sky Bet Championship season was announced on Thursday morning by the EFL and, as ever, provided a number of key talking points to dissect.
dcfc.co.uk has looked at what we have learned following the release of the Rams’ draft fixtures.
What’s Our Start Like?
Derby will play five league fixtures before the first international break of the season in early September.
Wayne Rooney’s side will get the campaign off and underway at Pride Park Stadium against Huddersfield Town on Saturday 7th August.
The first month of the season will also see matches at newly promoted Peterborough United on Saturday 14th August and Hull City on Wednesday 18th August, as well as home clashes against Middlesbrough on Saturday 21st August and Nottingham Forest on Saturday 28th August.
When Do We Play Our Local Rivals?
Derby’s local derby clashes with East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest are always eagerly anticipated and the 2021/22 campaign will be no different.
The first meeting of the season between the two clubs will come at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday 28th August prior to the first international break of the campaign.
Derby will then head to the City Ground on Saturday 22nd January 2022.
What’s New On The Fixture List?
There are six new sides in the Championship for 2021/22 season with Sheffield United, Fulham and West Bromwich Albion dropping down from the Premier League and Hull City, Peterborough United and Blackpool stepping up from League One.
Derby will travel to the three relegated sides in the first half of the season by heading to West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday 14th September, Sheffield United on Saturday 25th September and Fulham on Tuesday 23rd November.
The trio of teams will head to Pride Park Stadium in the second half of the campaign with West Bromwich Albion first up on Sunday 26th December in the annual Boxing Day fixture, while Sheffield United the visitors on Saturday 15th January in Derby’s first home game of 2022.
Fulham will come to town on Friday 15th April to kick off the Easter weekend’s fixtures.
What’s The Festive Period Like?
Derby will welcome West Bromwich Albion to Pride Park Stadium in the annual Boxing Day match on Sunday 26th December.
They will then play fixtures at Stoke City on Wednesday 29th December in their final game of 2021 and then Reading on Saturday 1st January for the first match of 2022.
Derby’s first home game of 2022 will be against Sheffield United on Saturday 15th January.
What Are Our Midweek Matches Like?
Derby will have four midweek home fixtures under the Pride Park Stadium floodlights.
First up is Reading on Wednesday 25th September, with the next match coming against Luton Town on Tuesday 19th October.
The first midweek home fixture of 2022 will be against Hull City on Tuesday 8th February, which will then quickly be followed by the visit of Millwall on Wednesday 23rd February.
In addition, the Rams have five midweek away matches on the agenda.
The first is at Hull City on Wednesday 18th August, followed by West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday 14th September.
There are two midweek away matches on the fixture list in the penultimate month of the calendar year on Wednesday 3rd November at Barnsley and Tuesday 23rd November at Fulham.
There’s only currently one midweek fixture planned for 2022 when Derby travel to Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday 15th March.
How Is The Run-In Looking?
Derby have seven matches to play following the final international break of the season at the end of March.
They return to action at home to Preston North End on Saturday 2nd April, before making the long trip to Swansea City a week later on Saturday 9th April.
The Rams’ Easter Weekend fixtures will see them host Fulham on Friday 15th April and then travel to Queens Park Rangers on Monday 18th April.
A home fixture against Bristol City on Saturday 23rd April and a trip to Blackpool on Saturday 30th April will set Derby up for the visit of Cardiff City on Saturday 7th May to conclude the campaign.
