Championship | Gameweek 34

Feb 22, 2025 at 12.30pm UK

Pride Park Stadium

Derby vs Millwall

Match preview

Derby's 11-game winless run in all competitions, which began with a narrow victory over managerless West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day, brought an abrupt end to the reign of Paul Warne, who was finally replaced by John Eustace at the start of last week.

The former Birmingham City boss decided to swap the top-six of Blackburn Rovers for the stress and strain of a second-tier relegation battle in the East Midlands, with the Rams suffering a sobering four-goal defeat at QPR in the 45-year-old's first game in charge.

Looking for a better performance after suffering their heaviest defeat of the 2024-25 campaign last time out, Derby currently sit 22nd in the Championship table, one point and one position behind Ruben Selles' Hull City in the relative safety of 21st.

Having won six of their 16 games in the second tier at Pride Park, the Rams are hardly sensational on their own patch, but they can take heart from the fact that both of their Championship victories since the start of November have come in front of the East Midlands faithful.

Saturday's hosts, Derby, who have found the back of the net in just two of their last seven league games, have been active in the transfer market since the close of the winter window, signing former Rangers and Leeds United striker Kemar Roofe until the end of the season.

Alex Neil, who has been in charge longer than Derby boss Eustace, has endured a mixed start to the season at Millwall, who enjoyed a four-game winning streak before going into this weekend's trip to the Midlands without the sweet taste of Championship success.

After an embarrassing 5-1 defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle on 12 February, the Lions have steadied the ship somewhat with back-to-back 1-1 draws against West Brom last weekend and an attritional trip to Preston on Tuesday night.

Mihailo Ivanovic, who has been a real threat in attack for Millwall since arriving from his homeland in the summer, opened the scoring for the visitors at Deepdale last time out - his fifth second-tier goal of the season - before the Lilywhites restored parity through the towering Dane Emil Riis Jakobsen.

With just two points from their last three games in the second tier, Millwall have missed plenty of opportunities to close the ever-widening gap between themselves and the play-off places, with Neil's men currently sitting in 14th place, six points outside the top six.

The Lions have struggled for consistency away from home this season, winning just three of their 16 Championship outings to date, but the London club did pick up a big scalp on the road in the FA Cup earlier this month, beating second-tier leaders Leeds 2-0 at Elland Road.

Recent Performance

Derby County Championship form:LLLDDL

Millwall Championship form:WWWLDD

Millwall form (all competitions):WWWLDD

Team News

Derby will be without the services of midfielder Corey Blackett-Taylor, who suffered a hamstring injury in last month's defeat at Cardiff City.

The Rams have also suffered a major fitness blow in January, with key centre-back Curtis Nelson ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee problem.

Adding to the hamstring woes in the East Midlands, Derby youngster Dajaune Brown is expected back in action at the start of March after recovering from a strain.

Middlesbrough loanee Josh Coburn, who last featured for Millwall at the end of November, made his long-awaited return to action against Preston on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old could be in line to start the trip to the East Midlands, although fellow striker Calum Scanlon (hamstring) is unavailable.

Possible starting lineup

Derby County possible starting lineup:

Zetterstrom; Nyambe, Clarke, Langas, Elder; Adams, Osborn, Yates, Goudmijn, Mendez-Laing; Barkhuizen

Millwall possible starting lineup:

Jensen; Crama, Tanganga, Cooper, Byran; De Norre, Mitchell, Coburn, Cundle, Azeez; Ivanovic