Coca Cola Football League Championship
Scunthorpe United vs. Derby County
August 15th 2009
Kick off - 3:00pm

Derby go into their first away league fixture of the season hoping to put the disappointing midweek League Cup performance against Rotherham behind them and return to the form that saw them successfully hold off a concerted effort from Championship newcomers Peterborough United to claim an opening day victory for the first time since a 3-0 victory over Reading at the start of the 2002/03 season.

That 2002 victory was followed by a 1-0 defeat against Gillingham that set the tone for a season of struggle for The Rams, and the club will do well to make sure they approach Scunthorpe United with caution. This is the first time the clubs have contested a competitive fixture since March 1964, when Tim Ward’s men lost 3-2 and, despite a 4-0 thumping at Cardiff City on Saturday, The Iron will offer an acid test for whether or not Derby can fulfil the (very) early season promise and push for the playoffs or be more involved at the other end of the table.

The biggest threat to Derby’s chances of victory would seem to be their own attacking options. Boss Nigel Clough made it clear early on in pre-season that he considered Kris Commons, Steve Davies, Rob Hulse, Chris Porter and Luke Varney as his five attacking players, but with Porter out until Christmas, Davies limping off against Rotherham, Hulse someway off match fitness after missing the entirity of pre-season and Commons only just approaching match fit, the Rams may have to rely on Luke Varney to provide fire power, and the much maligned striker’s return of just one goal in 13 appearances does not exactly breed confidence. It could be strongly argued that with Hulse and Commons available, and on top of their game, Peterborough and Rotherham would have been comfortably dispatched with the amount of chances that fell the Rams way but, instead, they must look to their defence to overcome the Scunthorpe attack and make the most of any goals that Derby do manage to snatch.

Shaun Barker sat on the bench during the Rotherham game, but the manner of the defending for both Rotherham’s goals on Tuesday evening may well see the club’s big summer signing make his full debut. Whether he will take the place of Addison or Buxton remains to be seen, though Clough himself remonstrated Addison’s failure to listen to instructions following the defeat. Pearson and Varney were also singled out for criticism by Clough, and the returning Paul Green may find himself partnering Ben Pringle, who impressed, rather than Pearson. Varney will likely hold on his place, as it is difficult to see who could readily replace him, should Davies' injury prove to be serious.

Scunthorpe come into the game on the back of a 2-1 League Cup victory over League Two side Chesterfield. Manager Ian Adkins will be hopeful that key centre half David Mirfin, who missed the match, will return to the first team. Adkins voiced his concern over his sides recent defensive performances, saying “The defenders have been injured and we're getting situations where we've got to be better defending as a team. The lads we've got are working hard but ultimately it's about winning” and there have been hints that he hopes to strengthen his defence before Saturday’s encounter, though any is possible targets are being kept close to his chest. Predictably, Scunthorpe lack any big name players that it is easy for those unfamiliar with the club to pick out as a threat, though Gary Hooper, who hit 30 goals in the club’s successful 2008/09 promotion push, is undoubtedly the focal point of The Iron’s attack and a player that Derby will have to try to keep quiet.

Scunthorpe have been strongly tipped for an immediate return to League One and, regardless of a club’s ambitions for the new campaign, Glanford Park is the sort of place that any visiting club should be aiming to come away from with a victory. If Derby are to achieve Clough’s aim of improving on last season’s 18th placed league finish than anything less than a victory is going to be a disappointment.

Last edited by Yojimbo on Fri Aug 14, 2009 2:57 pm; edited 1 time in total

Great preview Yojimbo