Manager Wayne Rooney has made two changes to the side which was beaten by AFC Bournemouth at the weekend for this evening’s Sky Bet Championship clash against Blackburn Rovers (7:45pm kick-off).


The Rams are determined to turn their away from around, which has seen them only win twice on their travels this season as they head to the north west to face Tony Mowbray’s high-flying Rovers side.

Rooney has elected to make two changes from Saturday’s 2-0 defeat against the Cherries and there is a return to the starting line-up for Liam Thompson.

The midfielder makes his first start since the defeat against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium last month and he replaces Krystian Bielik, who is on the substitute’s bench.

Jason Knight also returns to the starting line-up as he replaces Luke Plange, who is named amongst the substitutes.

Malcolm Ebiowei is handed a third consecutive league start after impressing against Barnsley and AFC Bournemouth in his previous two outings.

Blackburn Rovers: Kaminski, Pickering, Johnson, Khadra, Rothwell, Dolan, Rankin-Costello, Wharton, van Hecke, Lenihan (C), Travis.

Substitutes: Pears, Gallagher, Brown, Hedges, Buckley, Dack, Giles.

Derby County: Allsop, Byrne, Bird, Lawrence (C), Morrison, Buchanan, Ebiowei, Davies, Knight, Cashin, Thompson.

Substitutes: Roos, Forsyth, Bielik, Kazim-Richards, Stearman, Ebosele, Plange.