From the Sky Bet Championship, the Rams’ focus turns to the Emirates FA Cup and a mouth-watering third round tie with Manchester United under the Old Trafford floodlights.
Unbeaten in seven in all competitions, Gary Rowett’s men travel to the Theatre of Dreams on Friday evening (kick-off: 8pm) and here, dcfc.co.uk has collated all the information you need ahead of the meeting with Jose Mourinho’s side…
WHAT’S THE LATEST TEAM NEWS
The Rams could be without Joe Ledley and Tom Lawrence for the trip to Old Trafford on Friday evening.
Ledley, 30, is struggling with a back problem and Gary Rowett has claimed that the midfielder is a ‘big doubt’ for the meeting at the Theatre of Dreams.
Lawrence, the former United man, continues to struggle with a hip injury – which kept him out the New Year’s Day draw with Sheffield United.
Bradley Johnson is expected to be fine for the match.
WHAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF THE TRIP TO OLD TRAFFORD?
Speaking to RamsTV ahead of the game, Gary Rowett said: “We go there to try and play and show no fear.
“It’s a great challenge for the players – one we are going to learn an awful lot from about the players and whether they can step up and take the responsibility in a game of that magnitude.
“It’s a great tool to see which of ours can handle it. We’re aspiring to play against teams like Manchester United every week so if we go fearful and show we can’t handle that type of game then that’s a bit of a worry when it comes to what we are trying to achieve this season.
“We’re going to be very competitive. I’m not going to be too bravo about the game, because it is a daunting task to face a team like that away from home.
“There’s no pressure of picking up three points and, if anything, I think it means that we will go there more relaxed and allow us to play with a little more freedom.
“These are the games that we aspire to be facing week in, week out. As a player and a manager, you have to embrace these challenges.
“Who wouldn’t want to pit their wits in this type of game. Hopefully it will be a snapshot of what this club is going to be doing in the future.”
ONE TO WATCH
Jesse Lingard has had to wait for his chance to make a first-team impression at the club he’s been at since the age of seven, but boy has his patience paid off.
The in-form forward, and former Derby County loanee, took his tally to 10 goals this season in all competitions with a stunning strike from the edge of the box late on to seal the Reds' 2-0 victory at Everton on New Year's Day.
It's already his best-ever goalscoring campaign since stepping into the first team in the 2014/15 season and the no.14 has been sensational, particularly since switching to a central attacking position in the last few weeks.
His form comes off the back of another campaign of progress last season for United's Academy graduate; his pace and intelligent movement proving valuable for Jose Mourinho's side.
Lingard twice returned to Wembley and twice scored again: first in the Community Shield, and then in the League Cup final. As such, he's fast earning himself a reputation as a man for the big occasion, as well as a scorer of great goals.
That was epitomised in this competition as the wideman struck the winning goal in the 2015/16 Final at Wembley to seal the title for the Red Devils.
HOW DO I SECURE MY SEAT
After hitting general sale last month, the remainder of the 5,446 tickets for the Rams’ meeting with Manchester United SOLD OUT.
The Derby County Ticket Office is, however, still running a waiting list should they have any tickets returned.
Those interested in being added to the waiting list should email [email protected] with their name and Fan ID.
Fans without a ticket are advised not to make the journey as they will be unable to gain entry at Old Trafford.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Supporters are being urged to arrive at Old Trafford as early as possible (at least an hour before kick-off) due to increased security measures that were put in place at the beginning of the season.
Full details of this can be found on the Manchester United website.
ONE TO REMEMBER?
MANCHESTER UNITED 2-3 DERBY COUNTY
Saturday 5th April 1997
Paulo Wanchope’s debut wonder goal helped Derby County to a stunning 3-2 win at Old Trafford towards the end of their first season back in the top-flight under Jim Smith in April 1997.
The forward’s deep marauding run was finished off with a sweeping finish into the far corner of Peter Schmeichel’s goal – so good that it was voted as the club’s greatest ever finish by its supporters.
That came after Ashley Ward had opened the scoring – he smacked Wanchope’s header into the ground and looped it over the United ‘keeper to give the Rams the lead.
Eric Cantona halved the deficit by lashing in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s left wing cross, but Derby restored their advantage through Dean Sturridge, who capitalised on a mix-up in defence.
Solskjaer himself got in on the act to make it 3-2, but the Rams held on to claim a big win over the Red Devils.
Manchester United: Schmeichel, G. Neville (Irwin, 70), Johnsen, Pallister (Scholes, 86), P. Neville; Beckham, Butt (Solskjaer, 46), Keane, Giggs; Cantona, Cole
Derby County: Poom, Dailly, Laursen, McGrath, Trollope, C. Powell, D. Powell, van der Laan, Sturridge, Wanchope (Simpson, 65), Ward
Attendance: 55,243
WHO’S THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE?
Kevin Friend will be the man in the middle when Derby County travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the Emirates FA Cup third-round on Friday evening, kick-off: 8pm.
Friend has officiated 17 games so far this term, mainly in the Premier League. from which he has produced 40 yellow and one red cards.
This will be the first time that he has officiated a Rams since the beginning of the 2014/15 campaign when he was in charge for Derby’s 1-0 opening day win over Rotherham United.
In total, Friday night’s referee has been in the man in the middle for five of the Rams’ matches – in which they have won two, drawn two and lost just once.
Friend will be assisted by Marc Perry and Adrian Holmes on the lines, whilst Jonathan Moss has been appointed as the fourth official.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Due to FA Cup international broadcasting rights, RamsTV will NOT be able to stream Derby’s match with Manchester United live – either in the UK or internationally.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s coming up on RamsTV:
WEDNESDAY
- Pre-Match Press Conference (LIVE) (8.45am) - Join RamsTV live on Derby County’s Facebook page as Gary Rowett talks to the press as he prepares to go head-to-head with Jose Mourinho.
- Fan Cam: Pre-Manchester United (6pm) – RamsTV presenter Kim Birtwistle will be out and about in Derby to find out how fans think their team will get on against the Red Devils’ star-studded outfit.
THURSDAY
- The Manchester United Preview Show (6pm) – RamsTV presenter, Owen Bradley, will be joined by former Rams Marc Edworthy and Shane Nicholson as they review the Rams’ previous two league games before taking a closer look at the FA Cup clash with Manchester United.
- Last Game: Manchester United (6.30pm) – Remind yourself of the last time the Rams played the Red Devils with highlights from their FA Cup Fourth Round clash at Pride Park in January 2016.
FRIDAY
- Matchday Live: Manchester United Vs Derby County (7.15pm) - Owen Bradley will be joined by special guests in the RamsTV studio ahead of the game at Old Trafford.
- With stats, analysis of key players and exclusive pre-match interviews with Gary Rowett and members of his squad, RamsTV is the place to be to build-up to kick-off.
- Due to FA Cup international broadcasting rights, RamsTV will NOT be streaming the game live but UK-based Rams fans will be able to watch the full game replayed the following day.
- Post-Match Extra: Manchester United (10.30pm approx.) – Owen Bradley and Shane Nicholson will be LIVE on Facebook with reaction to the game at Old Trafford which will include post-match interviews from Gary Rowett and his team. The interactive show will also give Rams fans the chance to share their thoughts on the game.
SATURDAY
- Matchday Relived: Manchester United Vs Derby County (6pm) – Relive the entirety of the previous evening’s match along full pre-match build-up and half-time and full-time analysis.
Due to international FA Cup broadcasting rights, this content will only be available to UK-based RamsTV subscribers.
The RamsTV streaming service is available to all supporters who register on dcfc.co.uk.
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
First-Team Pay Per Game - Match Streaming (outside UK) - £5 for the individual game
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 Old Trafford.
