Analysis: Derby - Coventry, odds and tips

Derby fights for advance into the play-off, Coventry for holding in the league. Who will be closer to realization of this aim in the Saturday match which will be played within the framework of the 26th stage of the Football league championship?

Сlassification and team condition:
Derby (11-4-10) gained 37 points which gives it the 9th place. Footballers from Coventry (4-7-14) are outsiders of the championship which with their 14 points are in the last place.

Potential and team situation:
An excellent start of the championship, a deep crisis and return of condition – this is how the season looked like in Derby County’s players performance. The Rams have been showing a very good shape lately what has been influenced by improvement of situation in the lineup. Jeff Hendrick, the player of Ireland youth National team returned to the lineup after an injury. Footballers from Pride Park have a successful December behind them in which they earned 13 out of 18 possible points although had a very tense meetings timetable (West Ham, Leeds, Hull). This match has great importance for the players of Nigel Clough since a win will let them get closer to the best 6 which guarantees advance into the play-off.
A completely opposite atmosphere is in the guests’ team. Coventry is under a threat of falling out to the First League for the second time during several years. Ricoh Arena is still living with a 34-year history of performances in the Premier League. Since the moment of decline to the second league the club has been having problems with the search of new investors and a growing debt which in 2007 equaled £38 million. It is a real miracle that the “Skye-blues” are still fighting in the Сhampionship since the lineup disposed by Andy Torn is mainly based on young players in the age of 18-23 years. Will this help to get hold in the league?

History of meetings:
The balance of meetings in the Football league played at Pride Park is on Derby’s side. “The Rams” have lost at home from Coventry only once since the start of the 2002/03 season at the same time winning 3 times and playing in a draw 4 times.

Tips and grounds:
Coventry is a completely different team at home than in away matches. “The sky-blues” gathered only 3 points (0-3-9) in 12 away matches. Derby approaches to the 1-6 places and the team’s condition (3 wins in a row) reminds the condition at the start of the season when the Rams were regularly beating their opponents.

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