Derby County vs Bristol City. Sky Bet Championship.
Pride Park StadiumAttendance26,525.
Friday 19 January 2018 18:38, UK
Derby could have Joe Ledley back for the visit of Bristol City on Friday, live on Sky Sports Football from 7pm.
Ledley has missed the last four matches with a back injury and the Wales international will be assessed. Rams boss Gary Rowett said he will monitor Cameron Jerome in training before deciding whether the new signing will make an immediate debut.
Bradley Johnson continues to struggle with a back issue and the midfielder's period of rest and recovery may be extended to cover this weekend.
Bailey Wright is unlikely to be fit for Bristol City. The defender has a knee injury and is awaiting results of a scan having played through pain in recent weeks.
Matty Taylor is struggling with a groin injury while Gary O'Neil (knee) and Milan Djuric (muscle) are long-term absentees. Striker Famara Diedhiou has returned to training after a knee injury but he is unlikely to return as the Robins aim to end a five-game losing streak in all competitions.
Derby have won 11 of their last 14 home league matches against Bristol City (D1 L2).
The Robins' 4-1 win over Derby in the reverse fixture was their biggest league win over the Rams since winning 3-0 in February 1985.
The Rams have kept a clean sheet in seven of their last 11 Championship matches, conceding just three goals in total.
Bristol City are on a run of three successive losses in the Championship; they recorded just three losses in the first 24 games of the season.
Gary Rowett has won both his home Championship meetings against Bristol City, winning both with Birmingham in 2015/16 and 2016/17.
Bristol City's Bobby Reid has been directly involved in four goals in his last six appearances in all competitions (three goals, one assist), including a goal at the Etihad against Man City in the League Cup.
Derby have been on an excellent run of form lately and will be brimming with confidence ahead of this game on Friday night. They're now in second place and favourites to get promoted behind Wolves, which proves what a fantastic job Gary Rowett has done so far.
Bristol City, meanwhile, have lost five in a row and may have half an eye on their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg with Manchester City next week. They need to sort out their Championship form, though, as there are plenty of sides queuing up behind them waiting to take their spot in the play-offs. I can't see that happening on Friday night, however. Home win.
David Prutton predicts: 2-1 with Matej Vydra to score first (22/1 with Sky Bet)