After back-to-back home matches, Derby County hit the road again this weekend for their first visit to Bolton Wanderers since August 2015.
The first of three away games in a week, the Rams take on the newly-promoted Trotters at the Macron Stadium and ahead of the match, dcfc.co.uk has pulled together all the key information you are going to need to know…
WHAT’S THE LATEST TEAM NEWS?
Tom Lawrence is in line to make his Derby County debut this weekend when the Rams face Bolton Wanderers.
The 23-year-old Welsh international joined the club earlier this week from Leicester City, but was not eligible to play in the 1-0 win over Preston North End on Tuesday night.
After hitting the ground running on the training field, though, Rowett could introduce him in a Derby shirt this weekend.
“If Tom had been available against Preston, it might have been that we would have started him,” the Rams boss told RamsTV.
“We will see what the game is on Saturday and if I feel that it’s the right game for Tom then I will put him straight in the team. It is as simple as that.”
George Thorne and Jason Shackell will step up their return to full fitness by playing for the Under-23s against Chelsea on Friday as they edge closer to a first team return.
With the injury bill clearing up, it means that the only players that Rowett will be without are Darren Bent, Max Lowe and Jamie Hanson.
WHAT DID THE BOSS HAVE TO SAY?
Speaking to RamsTV ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Macron Stadium, Gary Rowett said: “We’ve got some good options and I think that what we’ve got to try and do is use those options and utilise them in the right games at the right times.
“A three-game week is often the time to try and get those decisions right.
“It’s those options that we want. That impact on the pitch from the starting team and the impact that we’ve seen from all of the substitutes; we saw it against Preston.
“There are going to be games that suit certain players. For example, I felt that the game against Preston was more suited towards David Nugent, more so than Chris Martin, and that proved to be the case.
“There was more space behind the back four and we needed to exploit that quickly with a striker and we know that Nugent has those attributes.
“Having said that, there will be other games where they suit Chris more. Games where we feel it is tight, teams are defending deep and we need someone to play off.”
WHO IS THE PLAYER TO WATCH?
Fresh from winning the Under-20s World Cup with England earlier this summer, Adam Armstrong will be aiming to stamp his mark on the Sky Bet Championship with Bolton Wanderers.
The 20-year-old joined the Trotters on loan until the start of 2018 from Newcastle United in July and has featured in Bolton’s first four matches this season and scored one goal as they defeated Crewe Alexandra in the Carabao Cup First Round.
Armstrong has been on the books of the Magpies since childhood and turned professional at St James’ Park three years ago. The forward has made 21 first team appearances for the Premier League side.
During that time, he also enjoyed successful loan stints with both Coventry City and Barnsley, scoring 20 goals in 40 outings to be named in the 2015/16 Sky Bet League PFA Team of the Year with the former and netting six times in the Sky Bet Championship for the Tykes last season.
A seasoned England youth international, Armstrong has proven his worth in front of goal at every level from Under-16 to Under-20, winning the FIFA U20 World Cup with the latter earlier this summer, while he was also a UEFA European Under-17 Championships winner with the Young Lions back in 2014.
HOW YOU CAN SECURE YOUR SEAT?
Supporters will be able to purchase tickets at the Macron Stadium for Derby County’s Sky Bet Championship fixture at Bolton Wanderers this afternoon (3pm kick-off).
Supporters had the chance to pre-purchase tickets in advance of the fixture before they went off sale on Friday afternoon.
There is no price increase by paying on arrival at the stadium and tickets are available from 2pm onwards at Block G in the South Stand.
Payment is by cash only.
Tickets have been confirmed at the following prices:
Adults £32
Senior Citizens (65+) £26
Under-23s £26
Armed Forces (with MOD90 Card) £20
Under-18s £11 *
Under-12s * £9
* All children aged Under 13 must be accompanied by someone aged 18 or above.
Bolton will be happy to help any Rams supporters who have any questions or ticket queries ahead of the game.
Full details can be found on their website, which is bwfc.co.uk.
IS THERE ANY TRAVEL INFORMATION?
Network Rail is carrying out major work at Bolton train station between 12 August and 27 August which means the majority of services have been replaced by buses.
This will obviously affect some fans travelling to games in the region.
WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST TIME WE MET?
BOLTON WANDERERS 0-0 DERBY COUNTY
Saturday 2nd December 2007
Derby County opened their Sky Bet Championship account with a hard fought 0-0 draw with Bolton Wanderers.
In a contest lacking in clear-cut chances, Derby came closest through Johnny Russell whose rising shot clattered the top of the crossbar midway through the first half.
Bolton, who controlled large periods of the contest at the Macron Stadium, hit the crossbar themselves on three occasions in the second half, but could not find a way past Scott Carson before Jay Spearing was sent off with four minutes remaining.
Bolton Wanderers: Amos, Wilson, Prince, Dervite, Moxey, Spearing, Pratley (Trotter, 90), Danns, Feeney, Clough (Heskey, 73), Madine
Substitutes not used: Fitzsimons, Vela, Davies, Dobbie, Holding
Derby County: Carson, Baird, (C), Keogh, Shackell, Warnock; Thorne, Bryson (Hendrick, 20), Hughes (Shotton, 32), Ince; Martin, Russell (Weimann, 67)
Substitutes not used: Grant, Forsyth, Bent, Pearce
Attendance: 17,608 (3,608 Derby supporters)
WHO ARE THE MATCH OFFICIALS?
Stephen Martin will take charge of Derby County's 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship fixture at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
Martin oversaw 35 games last season in all competitions, producing a total of 78 yellow cards and three reds.
His last Derby game was the 4-3 home defeat to Cardiff City in February 2017.
Martin will be assisted by Matthew McGrath and David Avent on the lines, whilst Simeon Lucas has been appointed as the Fourth Official.
HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE ACTION?
As has been the case with the club’s last two fixtures, supporters based outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland will be able to watch every kick LIVE from the Macron Stadium on RamsTV.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect from our #BWFCvDCFC Matchday Live production:
FRIDAY
- A preview show which will broadcast from 6pm – as well as looking back at Tuesday’s win over Preston North End, RamsTV turn their attention to what challenge Phil Parkinson’s Bolton Wanderers will pose and analyse what Gary Rowett and Matej Vydra had to say in their pre-match interviews.
SATURDAY
- Matchday Live will begin with a pre-match show at 2:15pm ahead of the 3pm kick-off.
- Former Derby defenders Michael Johnson and Shane Nicholson join host Colin Gibson as live studio guests to discuss the game ahead and team news coming out of the Macron Stadium.
- A pre-match interview with Gary Rowett ahead of kick-off.
- If you are based in the UK and Republic of Ireland you will be able to listen to live audio commentary from BBC Radio Derby, whilst subscribers based within the UK will be able to watch every kick of the action – with Jack Woodward and Darren Bent providing commentary.
SUNDAY
- Match Highlights and the full Matchday Live show will be available to view for supporters in the UK the day after each first-team fixture on 12pm across dcfc.co.uk and RamsTV.
MONDAY
- A review show will be broadcast from 6pm to review the action from the Macron Stadium and look ahead to Tuesday’s re-arranged Carabao Cup First Round match at Grimsby Town.
The new RamsTV streaming service is available to all supporters who resister on our new-look website dcfc.co.uk – which launched In June and has been developed with significant supporter input.
To access the full RamsTV streaming service will cost the following:
First-Team Match Streaming (outside UK) - £110 annual subscription or £12.50 per month
First-Team Audio Commentary (worldwide) - £45 annual subscription or £5 per month
A link to packages can be found here.
The two premium services are in addition to the regular pre-match and post-match interviews on RamsTV.
Supporters will also be able to follow all of the action, as usual, across our social media channels.
We will be providing behind the scenes content across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, where we will also provide a blow-by-blow account of proceedings at the Macron Stadium.
