Pre-Match Pack: Sheffield United (H)

Derby County will face Sheffield United at Pride Park Stadium in their first home fixture of 2022.

dcfc.co.uk has gathered all the information you need to know ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match (3pm kick-off).

COVID-19 PASSES…

It is now a legal requirement for all supporters aged 18 and over to show proof of their Covid Certification status prior to being granted access to Pride Park Stadium on a matchday.

As outlined by the UK Government in December 2021, any venue that has an attendance of more than 10,000 people is subject to the new rules.

Covid-19 Website Section

For all the key information for home and away supporters - including FAQS, Code of Conduct details and more information on COVID-19 passes - a specific COVID-19 section has been created on dcfc.co.uk.

This can be found directly at dcfc.co.uk/covid19.

Covid-19 Pass

To ensure that you can continue to watch Derby County at Pride Park Stadium in person and in a safe manner, it is imperative that you play your part by ensuring you have a valid COVID-19 Pass or proof of certification in advance of matchday.

For full details about the NHS COVID-19 Pass, which includes information on how to obtain valid certification of the COVID-19 vaccine, please CLICK HERE.

Be Prepared

To Be Prepared, supporters are advised to take note of the following points before watching a match at Pride Park Stadium.

* Check the Derby County COVID-19 guidance in advance of a home matchday on dcfc.co.uk and read the club’s COVID Code of Conduct.

* Ensure you have a valid form of COVID-19 certification in your possession before you leave for Pride Park Stadium, or you will not be permitted entry.

* The best form of Certification is the COVID-19 pass. You can download the COVID-19 digital pass using the designated NHS App or to your wallet or camera roll, in case there is no signal.

* Make sure your COVID-19 pass is easily accessible to ensure efficiency and speed of access when approaching the turnstiles.

* Bring your original printed NHS COVID-19 Pass with you on the day of each fixture, if you are unable to use the digital version.

* A negative Lateral Flow test result will be permissible, should you be unable to provide a COVID-19 pass

Be Early

The turnstiles at Pride Park Stadium will open 90 minutes ahead of kick-off on a home matchday.

The club strongly recommends supporters give themselves plenty of time before making their journey to Pride Park Stadium to ensure they can be in their seats in good time.

It is recommended having your COVID-19 Certification pass ready to show as you approach Pride Park Stadium. If you are using the digital pass, make sure you have it saved to your electronic wallet and/or as a screen shot in your photo library. This will prevent any delay if your network coverage or the NHS App is unavailable.

If you are using a digital COVID-19 Pass, please remember to make sure your phone has enough battery.

Face Coverings

If you are aged 11 or over, it is mandatory to wear a face covering in all indoor areas of the stadium such as the concourse and toilet areas.

Test Before Travel

Those who are not yet double vaccinated will need to take a lateral flow test within 48 hours of attending the match.

If the test returns a positive result, then you must NOT attend the fixture and follow the correct procedures as advised by the NHS.

Further information about COVID-19 is available HERE.

Don't Travel If You Are Unwell

Even if double-vaccinated, you must not attend or travel to Pride Park Stadium if you, or anybody attending with you, is suffering from COVID-19 symptoms, feels unwell, or is required to self-isolate.

Useful Information

* How to get an NHS COVID-19 Pass - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19...

* How to download a digital NHS COVID-19 Pass - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19...

* Further information about COVID-19 - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

TICKET NEWS…

Tickets for the game will be on sale right up until kick-off from the Ticket Office.

Supporters are advised to buy tickets as early as possible and if they wish to purchase match tickets on arrival ahead of kick-off, please do so as early as possible to avoid queues and potentially missing the start of the game.

Fans wishing to purchase a ticket on arrival at Pride Park Stadium are requested to ensure they have a Fan ID created on dcfc.co.uk to avoid the time-consuming process and to help provide a smooth customer service process.

Season Ticket Holders should note they no longer need to process their match ticket(s) online as Season Ticket Cards are now active for home league matches.

Derby County Vs Sheffield United
Saturday 15th January 2022 (3pm kick-off)
Sky Bet Championship (Level B Fixture)

BUY TICKETS FOR THIS MATCH HERE

CLICK HERE FOR HOME TICKET FAQS

Important Ticket Information

* 2021/22 Season Ticket Holders' cards are now active and available to use.

* Derby County Membership Holders have the chance to purchase a ticket with 10% Discount off the General Admission Match Ticket Price.

* Match Tickets are available until 1pm online on the day of the match and until kick-off from the Ticket Office in person.

Car Parking

In conjunction with Derby City Council, an online booking system for Pride Park Stadium matchday car parking, priced £8.50 per car.

Seasonal Parking Pass holders are not required to book online but must continue to display their car park hanger on the day to avoid incurring a fine.

Non-Seasonal Parking Pass holders are advised that parking in Car Park A or B without booking via the link provided below risk incurring a fine.

For more information and to reserve your space in advance of attending any first team match, visit secure.mipermit.com/derby/Account/PayAndStayAdd.aspx.

If you have any questions regarding the matchday parking ticket, please email [email protected].

Contact Information/Current Ticket Office Opening Hours

Ticket Office Counters (located at Pride Park Stadium with parking available in the West Stand car park)

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday - 10am-4pm

Home Matchday - 10am-Kick-Off

Ticket Office Phone Lines (by calling 0871 472 1884 - Calls cost 13p per minute, plus your phone company's access charge)

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday - 10am-4pm

Ticket Office Email Helpdesk (by emailing [email protected])

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - 9am-5pm

TEAM NEWS…

Defender Lee Buchanan is back in training after being sidelined since November's home win over AFC Bournemouth and he could return to the fold.

Nathan Byrne is likely to return to the squad after missing last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Coventry City in the Emirates FA Cup with a minor knock.

Attacking midfielder Louie Sibley also missed the loss at Coventry with a minor injury and he is now back in training and pushing to return to the matchday squad.

Polish international midfielder Krystian Bielik, who suffered an ACL knee injury in January 2021, is making good progress in his rehabilitation work. He is now taking part in training with the squad and is edging towards a return to the squad.

MANAGER'S THOUGHTS…

Manager Wayne Rooney offered his pre-match views to RamsTV and he said: “Sheffield United are on a good run of form, they are a good team and have good players so we are expecting a really difficult game.

“Preparations have been good, we have worked hard in training, we have gone through how we want to play and we will be ready.

“As I say every week, every match in this division is tough. We know when we are at our best, we are capable of giving anyone a game and winning so we will have to make sure we are on it.”

Rooney added: “The fans are extremely important for us and have been excellent all season, supporting both home and away, and getting behind us.

“They have seen the effort the lads have been putting in. We are a confident group, confident we’ve got what it takes to fight the odds and we will give every ounce of effort and energy that we’ve got into them games on matchday.”

FROM THE DRESSING ROOM…

Defender Craig Forsyth spoke to RamsTV at Moor Farm Training Ground as the Rams prepare to face the Blades.

He said: "It's back to the main aim and the priority which is the league and survival now after we went out the FA Cup last weekend.

“When you go on any sort of run, it’s good. In the last four games we’ve picked up 10 points from 12 so it’s a really good spell for us and it’s all about carrying on that momentum and keeping it going.

“It’s another big game on Saturday with Sheffield United coming to Pride Park. They have gone back to the way they was playing under Chris Wilder with a back three with wing backs.

“We’ve played against that system before and we’ve done well against it so hopefully we can get one over them on Saturday.”

MATCH OFFICIALS…

Martin Atkinson will oversee Saturday's game at Pride Park.

Atkinson has overseen 12 games so far this season in all competitions, showing 30 yellow cards and two reds.

The Premier League official has replaced Graham Scott, who was originally due to take charge of the match.

Atkinson will be assisted by Matthew Wilkes and Shaun Hudson on the lines, whilst Darren Drysdale has been appointed as the fourth official.

EFL SUBSTITUTE RULES…

The five substitutions rule has been scrapped for the 2021/22 season, the English Football League confirmed in July.

The rule allowing clubs to make five changes, as opposed to the usual three, was brought in following football's restart in June 2020 after a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Given that games had to be condensed into a short period of time it was thought beneficial and allowed managers to make as many as five changes in three intervals during a match.

Clubs had a longer post-break between seasons this time around and so the temporary rule has been changed.

Teams will be able to name seven substitutes but only use a maximum of three.

STREAMING INFORMATION…

With COVID-19 capacity restrictions lifted and EFL fixtures being played in front of full crowds once again, the temporary change in streaming rules is no longer valid.

If you can't make the game in person, other options to catch up with the action on the pitch – including live TV, live radio, streaming of selected matches alongside highlights on TV and online of every Sky Bet EFL game.

Live TV (Domestic)

In the UK, Sky Sports will show 138 Sky Bet EFL matches, 15 Carabao Cup ties and the Semi Finals and Final of the Papa John’s Trophy.

In the case of Weekend Fixtures, the EFL’s designated kick-off times* for Sky Live Matches are usually scheduled as follows:

* Friday evenings at 7:45pm or 8pm

* Saturdays at 12:30pm; Sundays at 12-noon

Within the Sky contract there are other kick-off times that are available to the broadcaster

In the case of scheduled Midweek Matches, live Sky fixtures will be between 7:30pm and 8pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Radio

TalkSPORT offer exclusive live commentaries on national radio across the Sky Bet EFL as well as non-exclusive rights to the Carabao Cup that are shared by the BBC.Both TalkSPORT and the BBC have the ability to broadcast score flash updates across all competitions.BBC Local Radio also have individual commentary deals with selected EFL clubs.

Live TV (International)

Any match shown live on Sky Sports in the UK is made available overseas via the League’s international broadcast partners.As well as this fixture, a minimum of 36 Championship fixtures taking place on Saturdays at 3pm, will be distributed for international coverage, alongside selected League One and Two fixtures, Carabao Cup ties, and action from across the Sky Bet Play-Offs.

A full list of the EFL’s international broadcast partners are available here:efl.com/iFollow/international-broadcasters/

Highlights

In the UK, Quest will continue to be the home for all highlights of matches in the Sky Bet EFL, Carabao Cup and Papa John’s Trophy, with action from a full weekend schedule of matches broadcast at 9pm on Saturdays, and midweek League highlights and Carabao Cup midweek highlights also screened on applicable weeknights. Internationally, a number of the EFL’s broadcast partners show repeat transmissions and highlights.

Streaming

In respect of domestic streaming, the EFL will return to the position as was prior to the pandemic when the live broadcast or streaming of any match in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is prohibited between the hours of 2:45pm-5:15pm on Saturday afternoons.

EFL clubs will have the right to live-stream midweek matches on iFollow or Club equivalent service, with Sky Sports also able to stream the same Championship fixtures to subscribers across their Red Button interactive and digital services.

The position in each Sky Bet EFL division is as follows:

Championship - Domestic

* All scheduled midweek matches (unless selected as one of Sky Sports Exclusive midweek selections)

* Displaced weekend matches – matches which are moved from Saturday 3pm kick-offs for non-TV purposes (at the discretion of the Home club)

* Bank Holiday matches (at the discretion of the Home club)

Championship - International

Overseas supporters can watch live all EFL Championship league games provided that they have not been selected for international television broadcast in a territory that has an overseas broadcast partner