The Season So Far
Despite The Rams hovering around the top of the table for most of this season, a recent poor run of form has seen them come close to dropping out of the top six. The Bees left the iPro Stadium empty handed when they visited in October, an unbeaten Christmas period then followed for Derby but the team collected just three points in the first six games of 2016.
Their Capital One Cup run was ended immediately by Portsmouth, but they went one further in the FA Cup. A Third Round win over Hartlepool was followed by a trip to Old Trafford, where they were sunk by goals from Wayne Rooney, Daley Blind and Juan Mata in a 3-1 loss to Manchester United.
The squad was bolstered in the summer by the additions of Tom Ince [Hull City], Jason Shackell [Burnley] and Bradley Johnson [Norwich City]. Since then, they have also added Nick Blackman [Reading], Abdoul Camara [Angers SCO] and Marcus Olsson [Blackburn Rovers] in January.
This was partly to cover for the departures of players like Jamie Ward, who join Nottingham Forest, and Zak Whitbread, now at Shrewsbury. After a brief stint between the sticks for Rotherham United, Kelle Roos embarked upon his second loan spell of the season with AFC Wimbledon. Highly-rated young striker Mason Bennett recently joined Burton Albion for the rest of the season.
The Gaffer
Academy Director Darren Wassall took charge of the squad for the first time last week, after Paul Clement was dismissed. This is his second time as caretaker following a similar situation three years ago when Nigel Clough departed.
The former defender played for Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Derby before making the step into coaching. He had some time with Burton Albion’s academy and was then hired by his current employers as academy manager in 2009.
The Match Officials
Referee: Darren Drysdale
Assistant Referees: Sam Purkiss and Rob Smith
Fourth Official: Dean Whitestone
Ticket news
Tickets are on sale online or via the club's Ticket Office and will continue right up until kick-off tomorrow. Standard price increases take effect from 4pm today.
Bees Player
You can hear live match commentary on Bees Player from 2.30pm tomorrow afternoon, with Mark Burridge and special guest Kevin O'Connor.