2019-20 Sky Bet Championship: Week 34 – Friday

Derby welcome promotion challengers, Fulham to Pride Park in a tasty Sky Bet Championship clash.

Derby can move up above Sheffield Wednesday into 12th with victory, whilst Fulham look to move level on points with second-placed Leeds if they win. 

 

Team news

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Duane Holmes is ruled out for Derby after suffering a hip injury in a 1-1 draw last weekend against Huddersfield. 

Andre Wisdom is expected to return from a hamstring injury but Tom Huddlestone is still sidelined with a calf injury. 

Fulham have no fresh injury concerns as Terence Kongolo (foot), Alfie Mawson (knee) and Maxim Le Marchand (back) remain ruled out. 

 

Form

Derby enter this match with two defeats in their last five league matches (W2, D1, L2), whilst taking 13 points from their last five at home (W4, D1). 

Fulham saw a six league match unbeaten run ended in a shock three goal loss at home to Barnsley, whilst keeping clean sheets in three of their last four away trips. 

 

Stat Attack

• Derby have avoided defeat in two of their last five meetings against Fulham (W1, D1, L3), including their Play-Off semi final in May 2018.
• Fulham have won just two of eight trips to Pride Park this century (W4, D2, L2). 
• Derby haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last six regular season league clashes against Fulham. 

 

Prediction

Fulham need a win here to quickly get their automatic promotion bid back on track after a shambolic display against Barnsley, who showed more desire and motivation despite being at the wrong end of the table. 

Derby meanwhile are beginning to reap the benefit of Wayne Rooney’s experience but if they are to challenge for a play-off spot, they really need a win here or it could well bite them in May if they lose this. 

I therefore am expecting to see both teams fired up for this encounter given what is at stake for either team, but Fulham don’t have the best of records at Pride Park so I am going for a home win if Derby can dig deep and find two goals. 

Prediction: Derby County 2-1 Fulham

Result: Derby County 1-1 Fulham