Derby County did look like a promising outfit, capable of getting a play-off berth midway into the season. However, with three losses in their last five outings, a sense of helplessness has engulfed the Pride Park Stadium as they have fallen 10 points behind the sixth place.
Gary Rowett has been appointed the new manager for Derby County after Steve McLaren was sacked and Rowett is due to take his troops to the City ground in order to lock horns against Nottingham Forest, who have also appointed a new manager in the form of Mark Warburton.
Predicted 4-3-3 Derby County Line-Up:
Defence
Scott Carson has been one of the finest goalkeepers on English soil this season, collecting 15 clean sheets in 35 appearances and making 97 saves in the process. It will be interesting to see how he fares under his new manager against the Tricky Trees this weekend. Derby County might have endured a nightmarish run under McLaren but the 31-year-old had started off decently.
To be positioned at left-back is Marcus Olsson ahead of Max Lowe and on the right-hand side, we expect Cyrus Christie to shut down the Nottingham Forest’s wingers’ attacking endeavours and to also show their own industry. At the heart of their defence, we will most likely see Rowett handing starts to the pair of Richard Keogh and Alex Pearce.
Midfield
Rowett isn’t likely to tinker with a three-man midfield setup, implying that we are likely to see the talented youngster in the form of Will Hughes being stationed on the right-hand side of the midfield, with another starlet, Julien de Sart in the central midfield region.
On the left-hand side of the midfield, Jacob Butterfield should get a nod to start, for he has plied his trade on 31 occasions for far this campaign for the Rams, bagging 3 assists and creating 30 chances.
Attack
Darren Bent is expected to spearhead Derby County’s setup. The 33-year-old veteran has 7 goals to his name but he really needs to up the ante in the business end of the season to ensure a strong finish for his side.
On the left wing, we anticipate Johnny Russell to get a start whereas, on the right-wing, Tom Ince should be finding a place in the starting line-up. Ince has scored 11 goals in 34 appearances for the Rams, bagging 4 assists and creating 56 chances as well and at this stage of the season, he really needs to keep firing and add strength to strength for his side.
Carson
Christie-Peace-Keogh-Olsson
Hughes-de Sart-Butterfield
Ince-Bent-Russell
Statistics Credits: Squawka.
