Championship | Gameweek 23

Dec 26, 2024 at 5.30pm UK

Pride Park Stadium

Derby vs West Brom

Match preview

After two successive clean sheets against promotion-chasing Burnley and Portsmouth in the last two weeks, Derby County were on course for a third successive clean sheet last Friday before goals from Tom Holmes and Carlton Morris gave Luton victory at Kenilworth Road after Kayden Jackson's opener.

The Rams are now on a run of one win in their last eight Championship games and face tricky home fixtures against West Brom and Leeds United before the end of the calendar year, with pre-season expectations of a survival battle threatening to become a stark reality in the East Midlands.

Ahead of their Boxing Day visit to the Baggies, Derby currently sit 16th in the second tier table after 22 games, six points clear of Cardiff City, Oxford United and Plymouth Argyle, with the aforementioned trio spending Christmas in the relegation zone.

Paul Warne's side would be targeting the play-off places if the Championship were based solely on home form, with Thursday's hosts having collected a respectable 17 points from 10 games at Pride Park so far in 2024-25, including three points last time out.

Newly promoted Portsmouth endured a frightful Friday 13th at the home of Derby, who crushed the lowly visitors 4-0 thanks to goals from Kane Wilson, Eiran Cashin and midfielder Ebou Adams, as well as a disheartening own goal from Pompey's Marlon Pack.

After a series of false alarms and scare stories, some West Brom supporters are calling for Christmas celebrations to be cancelled in their part of the West Midlands, with head coach Carlos Corberan set to leave The Hawthorns for Spanish giants Valencia.

The 41-year-old has provided the energy and enthusiasm to keep the Baggies competitive at the top end of the division since his arrival in October 2022, with the ill-fated spells of Valerien Ismael and Steve Bruce before him providing sobering glimpses of the path to Championship mediocrity.

If Corberan does join his boyhood club in the next few days, he will have done so after a typical home win on Sunday afternoon, when West Brom held off their second-tier visitors to win at a relative gallop, with Bristol City failing to pose a serious threat in the Black Country.

Having unexpectedly failed to find the net in his previous 17 Championship appearances this season, summer signing Mickey Johnston scored a sensational first-half double to see off the Robins at the weekend, with the Republic of Ireland international unleashing his trademark curling finish.

Having lost just one of their last 14 games in the second tier, West Brom are a tough nut to crack for anyone at this level, although the Baggies have a poor recent record at Pride Park, where they will be looking to end a two-match losing streak in the Championship and EFL Cup.

Recent Performance

Derby County Championship form:LLLDWL

West Bromwich Albion Championship form:DDDWLW

Team News

Derby will be without Irish defender Cashin, who is hoping to return from a hamstring injury in the New Year.

The Rams have switched to a back three for the trip to Luton, although it remains to be seen whether Sonny Bradley will retain his place in the side on Boxing Day.

The hosts' options are further limited by the absence of David Ozoh and Ryan Nyambe, who are sidelined with hamstring and knee problems respectively.

West Brom, meanwhile, will be without the services of Daryl Dike as the American marksman makes his long-awaited comeback from a serious Achilles injury.

Semi Ajayi, who last featured against Cardiff City at the end of October, is unlikely to feature over the festive period due to a leg problem.

Possible starting lineup

Derby County possible starting lineup:

Zetterstrom; Wilson, Phillips, Nelson, Bradley, Elder; Goudmijn, Osborn, Adams; Jackson, Yates

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Palmer; Furlong, Holgate, Bartley, Heggem; Mowatt, Molumby; Fellows, Swift, Johnston; Maja