Preview: Derby County vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Derby CountyPaul Clement manager of Derby County during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Middlesbrough at Pride Park Stadium on August 18, 2015

Derby found themselves in a rather sticky patch without a win in their first five games, but their first victory against Preston North End has since inspired Clement's charges to four wins in their last five matches.

County currently occupy seventh place and remain in strong contention for a playoff spot, and they might be hoping that they can mount a push for automatic promotion come next spring.

The main fixture of Derby's positive run of late has been the club's ability to defend. As it stands, County have the joint-best defensive record in the league having conceded just seven in 10 games.

With those strengths at the back clearly contributing to points already this season, Clement will be keen to see some improvements going forward, where Derby have been able to notch 12 goals for themselves.

With games to come against Blackburn Rovers, Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United, Derby will be confident of keeping their winning run going should they be able to get past Wolves on Sunday.

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Wolverhampton WanderersWolves player Sheyi Ojo in action during the Capital One Cup First Round match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newport County at Molineux on August 11, 2015 in Wolverhampton, England.

Wolves are still yet to really find the required consistency after their first 10 fixtures of the season, but following their defeat at Bolton Wanderers last month they now find themselves unbeaten in four.

Much like Derby, Jackett's men have won their last two games and are hoping to put together the sort of run that will keep the pressure on the playoff contenders above them.

Having initially conceded in five of their first six games, Wolves have now conceded just one goal in four and that defensive improvement will have delighted Jackett as they approach the vital winter period.

What is more, Wanderers have also bagged six in 180 minutes of football and will be confident at both ends of the pitch when they visit Derby at the weekend.

Some sections of the Wolves support will have been left frustrated by the departure of Bakary Sako in the summer, but many will also now be delighted at the emergence of Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo, who has received some praise from Jackett himself in recent weeks.


Depending on how results play out over the weekend, victory in Sunday's fixture could conceivably place Wolves in one of the playoff spots and would also see them move above Derby in the standings. Given the length of the season, the idea of talking about the playoffs might seem premature to some, but Jackett will know that every point counts in a league that can so often throw up surprise after surprise.

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