Derby to Ram home advantage
It was always going to be, wasn’t it? After the shenanigans surrounding ‘Spygate’, Leeds and Derby meeting in the play-offs was almost destiny. Frank Lampard can have the last laugh in this newfound rivalry but, first, his young Rams must make the most of home advantage.
Contrasting moods paint the picture
Frank Lampard has made it known he’s yet to receive an apology from anyone at Leeds over the Spygate affair but neither does the issue bother him any longer. Focused and relaxed, the Derby boss has simply put the matter behind him.
Contrast that with Marcelo Bielsa’s spiky reaction to a journalist when asked, tounge-in-cheek, if he intends to send anyone else to cast an eye over Derby’s training session and it’s clear the issue is one that still rankles with the Argentinian.
If anything, you’d expect it to be the other way around. But it’s fair to say the reaction of the two managers almost mirrors that of the two teams with Derby on a roll and Leeds, well, floundering.
In-form and focussed
No powerpoint presentations are needed here to show who the form side is. Derby may have finished three places below and nine points behind their play-off opponent but it’s the Rams who head into the two-legged tie with all the momentum, so often a crucial factor at this stage.
At one point during the run-in, it looked as if Lampard’s young side would crumble under pressure, especially with Middlesbrough and Bristol City breathing down their necks.
But they’ve remained resilient, stuck to the task and proved themselves when it’s mattered, not least away at The Robins and at home to West Brom on the final day which were two of four wins collected in the final six games and part of a 12-game run containing just one loss. Now to see the job through.
Leeds to fall short again?
Bielsa could do no wrong in the first half of the season with Leeds starting like a house on fire, topping the league and looking genuine contenders to go up automatically.
It’s hard to say whether failing to win any of the last four - three of which were defeats - was due to realising they were out of contention for the top two, or, running out of steam following a long slog.
Whatever the reason, it’ll be a worry for supporters of The Whites, desperate to end fourteen years outside the Premier League. Third place was Leeds’ highest Championship finish and their best season for some time, yet, there’s every possibility they’re going to remain in the second tier. Unless Bielsa can inspire a turnaround in form that is!
Derby vs Leeds betting tip
Derby were beaten only three times in the regular league campaign, a league best. Leeds were in fact the first when it looked as if a team of men had given a group of boys, manager included, a footballing lesson on only the second weekend of the season.
But both sides are different propositions entirely now and I feel Derby have the impetus and the energy going into this, something which can't be said of their opponent right now.
With that in mind, backing Derby to win seems the way to go, a bet which brings eye-catching odds of 43/20.
