Derby County welcome promotion chasing Watford to Pride Park in Friday Night Football from the Sky Bet Championship.
Derby can temporarily go ninth with victory whilst Watford know that a win will send them into fifth, although a winning margin of four goals will send the Hornets third until Saturday afternoon.
Team News
Derby could be without David Marshall, Kamil Jozwiak and Jason Knight after the trio were all involved in Nations League action on Wednesday evening, representing Scotland, Poland and Republic of Ireland respectively.
Jordan Ibe (fitness), Krystian Bielik (knee), Martyn Waghorn (calf) and Tom Lawrence (shoulder) are all doubts as they look to make first appearances of the season.
Watford could welcome Etienne Capoue back after the midfielder withdrew a transfer request during the international break.
Troy Deeney (knock), Andre Gray (hamstring) and Will Hughes (fitness) could feature but Isaac Success (Achilles), Adam Masina (tendon) and Tom Dele-Bashiru (knee) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Derby are unbeaten in five of their last six meetings against Watford (W4, D1, L1).
- Watford have won just one of their last seven league trips to Pride Park (W1, D1, L5).
- Both teams have just two players from their last clash in April 2015 who currently remain with their clubs, Derby (Kelle Roos, Craig Forsyth) and Watford (Craig Cathcart, Troy Deeney).
- Derby are yet to score a first-half goal in all competitions this season.
- Watford have kept clean sheets in three of their last four league matches (W2, D1, L1).
Prediction
Both teams experienced contrasting 1-0 results last time out but this is going to be a tough clash given that it comes just 48 hours after the end of this month’s international window.
Derby however do need to kick on if want to begin to reduce their deficit to their promotion rivals after a sluggish start to the season which featured several dodgy defensive displays.
Watford meanwhile have been really scrappy with just two goals scored and one conceded in their opening four matches but if they’re to seriously fight for promotion, they need to start scoring more goals than they’re currently doing.
This therefore should be a scrappy match because Derby have to start finding form whereas Watford are stubborn at the back yet lacklustre up front, yet Pride Park has been a dodgy ground for Watford but they should have enough against a wobbly Derby team.
Prediction: Derby 0-1 Watford
Result: Derby 0-1 Watford