Derby, Sheff Wed and the Millers only one survives
In one of the biggest matches in English football this season, Derby County host Sheffield Wednesday with the visitors needing a win to stay up which would consequently relegated Wayne Rooney’s Rams. For financial mismanagement the Owls began this season with a points deduction of 12 points, it was later reduced to six but has still hampered them enough to find themselves on the verge of dropping into League One. Rotherham United are the other team in the equation, sandwiched in between the two clubs, three points behind Derby but with a superior goal difference to Sheff Wed. The Millers are in action away to Luton Town on Tuesday night, with a final day venture to Mick McCarthy’s eighth placed Cardiff City.
Process
In terms of expected goals the hosts are the better side here but with their inexperienced playing squad and inability to put the ball in the net they are in a perilous situation. Neither have covered themselves in glory of late but the Rams have chosen the worst possible time to lose six on the bounce, they come into this gigantic fixture in terrible form. They have the worst goalscoring record in the division, notching just 33 times despite creating chances equating to 46.9 expected goals. An underperformance of just under 14 goals, these are unsustainable numbers suggesting an upturn in form will come soon, but it could well come too late. Defensively they are better but not sparkling, they have a mid table defensive process, but in reality have only conceded three less than their final day opponents this term.
Goals?
The very nature and high stakes of this game would lead to a low scoring one. However with the do or die conditions of it for the visitors, an early Derby lead could see this one erupt. In a losing position the Owls have nothing to lose and would throw caution to the wind entirely, leaving gaps in behind for County’s misfiring frontline. Stay in the game and a tense finish is on the cards.
- Derby have scored in six of 10.
- Derby have conceded in nine of 10.
- Derby have seen both teams score in five of 10.
- Derby have seen over 2.5 goals in six of 10.
- Sheff Wed have scored in seven of 10.
- Sheff Wed have conceded in seven of 10.
- Sheff Wed have seen both teams score in five of 10.
- Sheff Wed have seen over 2.5 goals in four of 10.
Wayne Rooney’s managerial career will be in tatters if they fall on the wrong side of this one and for Darren Moore it is an outside shot at a truly great escape.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
An epic 3-3 draw was enough for Derby to scrape survival.