Derby County have come a long way since Steve McLaren took the helm at the club in November 2013. They very nearly made it to the Premier League last season but were beaten by Queens Park Rangers in the Playoff final, and have since gone from strength to strength; they now sit in the automatic promotion places with just three months left in the season. The real question is, with the table as close as it is. Can they stay there ?
To begin with lets look at the competition. Bournemouth currently sit in the other automatic promotion place ahead of the Rams. They invested significantly in the summer bringing in – among others – Callum Wilson from Coventry City. However they also retained familiar faces such as Mark Pugh and have thus blended well as a team. Eddie Howe has encouraged a energetic style of football and has thus guided Bournemouth to the pinnacle of the championship; making them arguably Derby County’s biggest promotion Rivals.
Middlesbrough, another promotion chasing team, caught a lot of attention in their recent 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium over current Premier League Champions Manchester City. Like Bournemouth they are a team with a dynamic and energetic style of play and have vibrant, proficient strikers in Lee Tomlin and Patrick Bamford. Furthermore they also beat the Rams when the two sides met at the riverside back in December. They too are in a promising position and find themselves just behind their main competition: the Cherries and the Rams.
Back at the IPro, Derby have made improvements themselves. Tom Ince signed on loan from Hull City for the remainder of the season and although he failed to make an impact on Local rivals Nottingham Forest earlier this season, He scored twice on his debut for the Rams proving his credentials as top Championship player. Additionally Jesse Lingard signed from Manchester United on a loan giving Steve McLaren more options in his midfield. Darren Bent has made a impact as well scoring in the FA Cup against Derbyshire rivals Chesterfield as well as in the League. The former England striker has worked well as a substitute for Chris Martin and has enjoyed a relatively good first month at the club.
Finally, with regards to form, Derby have been playing well In recent months. They’ve claimed big wins at the likes of Portman Roads against Ipswich and away at Watford; another promotion chasing team. They have only lost 6 games so far this season further showing their capabilities at both ends of the pitch. However, they have suffered some big defeats which may have consequences come the end of the season. As mentioned above, Middlesbrough bested the Rams at the Riverside with former Ram Patrick Bamford scoring the first of that 2-0 win for ‘Boro. Even more worrying was the recent home defeat to out of form, local rivals Nottingham Forest thanks to a 92nd minute winner from Derby born Forest midfielder Ben Osborn. So, if the Rams what to keep up what has been an excellent season and push for the title, they will need to eliminate all complacency from their team and develop on their weaknesses in order to prevent them falling into the Play-off places at the expense of other promotion chasing sides.
All in all, Derby are arguably the strongest side in the championship and have been resurrected by Steve McLaren in the last season and a half. With the side they have and how well they have played for the majority of this season, the Rams supporters should expect promotion and a strong title challenge from the team.
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