Championship | Gameweek 24

Dec 29, 2024 at 5.45pm UK

Pride Park Stadium

Derby vs Leeds

Match preview

After winning promotion from League One last season, Derby will be content with their current position at the halfway stage of their first Championship campaign since 2021-22.

Paul Warne's side are eight points clear of the bottom three, having won seven, drawn six and lost ten of their 23 league games.

Two of those victories have come in their last three games, with home wins over Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion coming on the back of a 2-1 defeat away to Luton Town.

Derby took a two-goal lead over the Baggies on Boxing Day thanks to a Jerry Yates brace and a Mason Holgate own goal, before Grady Diangana pulled one back in the 81st minute to set up a nervy finish.

The Rams held on for the remainder of the game to extend their unbeaten home record against West Brom to eight games.

Unfortunately for Derby, they have not enjoyed the same success against Leeds at Pride Park in recent times, failing to win any of their last four home meetings (D1, L3) since a 1-0 victory in October 2016.

Leeds won 2-0 away at Stoke City on Boxing Day and took advantage of Sheffield United's defeat at Burnley to move top of the table.

Joel Piroe scored a brace at the bet365 Stadium as Leeds recorded their fourth win in five games to move above Sheffield United on goal difference and a point clear of third-placed Burnley.

Daniel Farke's side are currently the top scorers in the second tier with 43 goals, while they also boast the third-best defensive record with 15 goals conceded in 23 league games.

They have also kept three clean sheets in their last five games, including a shutout in the reverse fixture against Derby earlier this month.

Goals from Joe Rodon and Maximilian Wober secured a 2-0 win for Leeds when the two sides met at Elland Road on 7 December.

The first goal could be crucial if Leeds are to complete the league double, having won 13 of their 14 league games in which they have opened the scoring this season (D1).

Recent Performance

Derby County Championship form:LLDWLW

Leeds United Championship form:LWWDWW

Team News

Derby centre-back Eiran Cashin is set to miss a third successive game after picking up a hamstring problem in the 4-0 win over Portsmouth earlier this month.

The hosts are also without defender Ryan Nyambe and midfielder David Ozoh with knee and quad injuries respectively.

Ben Osborn will be assessed ahead of Sunday's home game after missing the Boxing Day win over West Brom with an injury.

The hosts will be without full-back Junior Firpo and midfielder Ilia Gruev with hamstring and knee injuries respectively.

Wober will be assessed by Leeds' medical staff after missing the last two games against Oxford and Stoke.

Farke may decide to keep changes to a minimum, although he could be tempted to bring Ao Tanaka back into the starting line-up.

Possible starting lineup

Derby County possible starting lineup:

Widell Zetterstrom; Wilson, Nelson, Phillips, Elder; Goudmijn, Adams, Harness; Jackson, Mendez-Laing, Jackson

Leeds United possible starting lineup:

Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Byram; Ampadu, Rothwell; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe