3/1 To Win
Manager Phillip Cocu is expecting a similar encounter to Monday night’s game against Huddersfield Town tomorrow afternoon when Derby County take on Swansea City at Pride Park Stadium.
The Rams were 2-1 winners at the John Smith’s Stadium on Monday courtesy of two goals from attacker Tom Lawrence.
Derby had a lot of the ball in the first half but had to dig in in the second period to ensure all three points and Cocu believes the Swans will prove to be a similar test to his side.
“They are a good team,” he told RamsTV. “They won also in their first game. They have quality and like to also have the ball.
“Like Huddersfield, they try to build up, they like to have possession and they like going forward with possession so we know it’s going to be tough.”
The Swans are under new management following the departure of Graham Potter to Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer.
Former England Under-17s coach Steve Cooper has taken the reigns and managed to record a win in his opening game in charge against Hull City last weekend.
They have tweaked their style a little from last season and with only one game played so far, it can be difficult to judge how teams will line up.
“For now, you just focus on the game they played because it is a league game and not a friendly game,” Cocu said.
“Friendlies are more difficult to analyse because they have training sessions around it and sometimes they rotate because everyone needs minutes.
“To see their tactics and how they play is easier to see in the league games.”
In terms of team news, Cocu did admit that he will more than likely still be without new signing Krystian Bielik as he builds up his fitness.
Duane Holmes is also back in training after being sidelined for the whole of pre-season, but also needs to build up his fitness.
“Krystian will need more time because he had three weeks off after his summer with Poland's Under-21 team,” he commented.
“He had some individual sessions at Arsenal and now he is getting into the team sessions, so he needs to adjust and get physically ready for a real game.
“I think it is a little bit too early.”
