Derby face Brentford battle with relegation not yet out of sight

Embed from Getty Images

Derby County face Brentford on Tuesday evening in their worst form since Wayne Rooney took full charge.

Without a goal in their last four, the Rams are in serious need of a victory if they are to start putting their relegation fears to bed. Their latest encounter, a 1-0 defeat to Millwall, will have left a fire in the bellies of those donning the famous black and white strip, having dominated the majority of the match, but walking away with nothing to show.

Derby have scored just nine goals from open play this season, scoring a further 16 from set pieces to create an underwhelming total of 25. The East Midlands outfit are comfortably one of the lowest scorers in the league, something that you might not expect considering their manager is England’s all-time leading goalscorer.

At the complete polar opposite end of the scale, the Bees have been in terrific goalscoring form this campaign, boasting 62 goals from their 35 matches so far, making them the highest scoring side in the division.

Shockingly for the Rams, the ever impressive Ivan Toney has actually scored more goals individually this season than their entire squad, tallying an impressive 26 to date.

Embed from Getty Images

Brentford have shown no signs of a play-off final hangover from last season, sitting three points away from the automatics with a game in hand over Norwich City who currently occupy second spot, they are the clear favourites heading into this encounter.

Rooney’s side are currently just seven points clear of the relegation zone and Rotherham United in 22nd place. It is a sizeable gap between the two sides, however, the Millers have four games in hand due to multiple postponements of fixtures, meaning the Rams shall be cautiously looking over their shoulder during the remaining ten matches yet to play.

Whatever the result, this encounter is set to have significant implications at both ends of the Sky Bet Championship table as we approach the closing stages of the competition.

Team News

Derby will be boosted by the return of Wales international Tom Lawrence. The winger missed the previous 18 games with an ankle injury, but is set to return to the matchday squad against Brentford.

Embed from Getty Images

Lee Gregory missed the previous match after his knee had began to swell, however, Rooney confirmed he shall be fit to face the Bees.

There are no other fresh injury concerns for the Rams as long-term absentees Curtis Davies and Krystian Bielik remain side-lined.

Thomas Frank is without three players ahead of his side’s visit to Pride Park.

Left-back Rico Henry has missed the last four matches with a hamstring injury, former Leeds United centre-back Pontus Jansson injured his ankle in January and has been out ever since, whilst Grenadian midfielder Shandon Baptiste injured his knee just nine minutes into his Championship career, ruling himself unavailable for the entirety of the season.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt