Derby County v Queens Park Rangers
Coca Cola Championship
Pride Park Derby
Saturday 24th October 2009, 5:30 pm

Queens Park Rangers
Current League Position: 10/24
Leading scorer: Jay Simpson 5lg, Wayne Routledge 2lg, 4cp
Manager: Jim Magilton
Kit home: Blue & White hoop shirt/White shorts
Kit away: Red & Black hoop shirt/Red shorts
Last game: QPR 4-1 Reading

Quotes from the manager:

From the Ealing Gazette following the second 4 goal show of the week : “We're playing with confidence. The flow in the side is very good. We've shown real positiveness in everything we've done. The players are believing in what John [Gorman] and I are bringing.

“It's making them want the ball. We don't want anyone to hide. We want everyone to be in a position to receive the ball and they've been terrific again tonight."

“It's always difficult to replicate a good performance like the one we gave on Saturday [the 4-0 win over Preston]. To do it again is terrific.”

Current Hoops squad

2 Defender Peter Ramage
3 Defender Damion Stewart
4 Midfield Gavin Mahon
5 Defender Fitz Hall
6 Midfield Mikele Leigertwood
7 Midfield Wayne Routledge
8 Striker Rowan Vine
10 Midfield Ákos Buzsáky
11 Striker Patrick Agyemang
12 Striker Alessandro Pellicori
13 Defender Kaspars Gorkšs
14 Midfield Martin Rowlands (captain)
15 Midfield Ben Watson (on loan from Wigan Athletic)
16 Defender Matthew Connolly
17 Midfield Lee Cook
18 Midfield Alejandro Faurlín
19 Striker Angelo Balanta
21 Midfield Matteo Alberti
22 Keeper Tom Heaton (on loan from Manchester United)
23 Striker Jay Simpson (on loan from Arsenal)
24 Keeper Radek ÄŒerný
25 Midfield Hogan Ephraim
26 Midfield Gareth Ainsworth
29 Defender Gary Borrowdale
32 Keeper Elvijs Putniņš
34 Defender Ed Harris
39 Midfield Adel Taarabt (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)

The Rams

Quotes from the manager:

From the BBC following the 2-0 Defeat at Boro: "We conceded a soft penalty having had two turned down on Saturday which we thought were probably more of a shout than that one given tonight."

"The first goal was going to be very important, primarily for us having not got a win away from home this season and Middlesbrough on the back of three defeats."

"Once that one went in, it changed the game."

Current Rams Squad

1 Keeper Stephen Bywater
2 Defender Paul Connolly
3 Defender James McEveley INJURED
4 midfield Paul Green INJURED
5 Defender Miles Addison (vice-captain)
6 Defender Dean Leacock
7 Midfield Lee Croft
8 Midfield Robbie Savage (captain)
9 Striker Rob Hulse
10 Striker Kris Commons INJURED
11 Midfield Gary Teale
12 Striker Chris Porter  INJURED
13 Keeper Saul Deeney
14 Defender Shaun Barker
16 Midfield Stephen Pearson INJURED
17 Defender Jake Buxton
18 Midfield Ben Pringle
19 Striker Giles Barnes  INJURED
20 Striker Steve Davies  INJURED
21 Midfield Dean Moxey
23 Defender Mark O'Brien
24 Midfield Jake Livermore (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
25 Striker Paul Dickov (on loan from Leicester City)
26 Midfield Lee Hendrie
__ Midfield Bryan Hughes (on loan from Hull)

What the Bookies think

Home Win: 6/4
Draw: 21/10
Away win: 6/4
First Scorer: Rob Hulse 11/2, Paul Dickov, Jay Simpson 6/1

Information for travelling fans
 
Driving: Shepherds Bush to Derby is about 125miles. Take M25, M1 North to J25 then take the A52 Brian Clough Way to Derby. You will see the ground on your left as you arrive in Derby. Follow the signs for the parking or stay on the A52 as described below.

Parking: It used to be at the old Wilmorten College site however that is now a housing estate so away fans should park at Catalyst on London Rd opposite the Navigation pub. It’s about 10-15 minutes from the ground. Don’t be tempted to park at Pride Park shopping centre unless you fancy being clamped. You can also park for a £5 at the hospital further up London Rd near the hospital and the Railway station. Another alternative if you follow the above route is to head around Pentagon Island to the Cattle Market Car Park. It’s about 10 minutes walk to the ground from here.
 
Drinking: If you come by train, the locale around the station is fairly inviting. The Crown and Cushion at the junction of London Rd always seems to be full of away supporters. The Brunswick is a must for any real ale fans and the Alexandra next door is my personal favourite. Fans tend to mingle in these pubs and as long as you’re not being aggressive, the atmosphere is good. The Waterfall opposite the station is okay as well. If you are driving, the Navigation Pub on London Rd opposite the parking area is your best bet. Around the ground there's a Frankie & Bennie's, Harvester and the Pride Park but these tend to be very busy.

Mick’s Prediction

Another miserable defeat in front of only about 400 travelling fans and Boro's lowest ever crowd - the fans seem to be staying away from the away games more and more. We can make allowances for midweek games miles away in October but the fact remains plenty of other clubs are getting big turn outs away regardless of distance.

This weeks late SKY kick off is being billed as a wear white day with fans being given a free 'T' Shirt. Also by way of an apology fans who witnessed the Cardiff drubbing will get a free drink after the game in the newly refurbished Pedigree Suite- by way of an apology.

As somebody said on a message board, they don't want free drinks, free scarves and 'T' Shirts (particularly not with other teams logo's on them) they want a decently performing team on the pitch!

The board need to be warned, eventually the fans will vote with their feet and if they want an idea of what Pride Park would look like inhabited by only 17,000 fans, then look at Tuesday's video from the Riverside.

Nigel Clough has moved in the transfer market to bring in Bryan Hughes on loan from Hull . He was a good player a few seasons ago but now at 33 he's a little long in the tooth. Hopefully he's got what it takes to beef up the midfield but it begs the question as to why we have Hendrie on loan when he barely seems to be getting a game. Hughes himself has barely played this season so its anybody's guess whether he's match fit.

Mick's team: Bywater, Connolly, Leacock, Barker, Moxey, Croft, Savage, Hendrie, Hughes, Dickov, Hulse

Prediction: Derby 2-2 QPR