Pride Park to celebrate in style
Frank Lampard has done an excellent job at Derby but can he now get them over the line with a win on the final day?
Now or never for the Rams
There is no doubt that if Derby make the top six this season it can be considered a successful campaign.
Frank Lampard has come into his first job in management and showed that he can handle the pressure of managing a side with huge expectations while having the tactical awareness to survive in the toughest division in Europe in the Championship.
The Rams now have to get to the finish line ensuring they are in the play-off shake-up where, frankly, anything can happen.
The only issue for County is if they fail to get promoted they could see some key figures leave the club. Mason Mount should get his chance in the Premier League next season even if it is not with Chelsea.
The midfielder has played really well and could be loaned out to a top-flight club rather than head back to the EFL.
Fikayo Tomori is another Chelsea loanee who may not play for the Rams next season if they can’t seal promotion and worst of all, Mr Lampard himself has been linked with the Chelsea job.
Another new manager and rebuild is the last thing Derby County fans will want even if their side fails to get promoted.
The perfect form
Only one defeat in the last 10 games has given Derby the opportunity to make it a dream season for Frank Lampard.
When he arrived there were plenty of people sceptical about whether he’d be able to transfer his ability as a player into the dugout but he has got the Rams hitting the perfect form as they not only look to seal a play-off place but also compete in them.
Often the side that has a late surge to reach the top six then goes on to win promotion due to the momentum they had coming into those crucial match-ups.
Derby also ended their recent struggles on the road with the win at Bristol City ending a run of eight Championship away matches without a win.
Will they want to avoid Leeds?
If Derby do finish sixth then the likelihood is a play-off semi-final against Leeds. The Whites have beaten Frank Lampard’s men 6-1 on aggregate this season already winning 4-1 back in August and then 2-0 in January following the much publicised ‘Spy gate’.
There is no use worrying about who the Rams will play in the post season until they are confirmed to be part of it yet avoiding Leeds may be on Lampard’s mind though considering Leeds’ form, maybe not.
Derby v West Brom betting tip
With the stakes high in this one and Derby looking to seal the deal it could well be an open game so backing this one to have over 3.5 goals at odds of 15/8 should be under careful consideration.
