3/1 To Win
Derby
County will travel to Blackpool for their final away fixture of the 2021/22 season on Saturday afternoon.
dcfc.co.uk has gathered all the information you need to know ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match (3pm kick-off).
TICKET NEWS…
Derby's increased allocation of tickets for the match on Saturday have SOLD OUT.
The Rams' total allocation of seats was increased to 3,926 last weekend and , after going on sale to Season Ticket Holders earlier this week, these have all been snapped up.
Derby fans without a ticket are advised not to make the journey to Blackpool as they will be unable to gain entry to the stadium.
TEAM NEWS…
Manager
Wayne Rooney has no fresh injury issues for the game but, after seeing
the Rams relegated to Sky Bet League One just under two weeks ago, he is likely
to offer some match minutes to a handful of players that have been in
and around the starting line-up in recent weeks.
Midfielder Krystian Bielik has a minor groin issue and will miss out on a place in the squad once again, after sitting out last weekend's 3-1 home defeat to Bristol City, but it is hoped the Poland international could return to the fold for the final game of the season at home to Cardiff City next Saturday.
Skipper
Tom Lawrence will miss the match as a result of being sent off in the
1-0 loss at Queens Park Rangers earlier this month. He was dismissed
for two bookings in the game and, as it was his second red card of the season, he
must serve a two-match ban. The meeting with Blackpool will be the second match of the suspension.
Striker Colin Kazim-Richards will once again miss out after picking up an ankle injury in the side's 3-1 loss at Blackburn Rovers recently and is due to miss the rest of the season, although he is upping his workload with the medical team.
MANAGER'S THOUGHTS…
Manager Wayne Rooney offered his pre-match views to RamsTV.
He said: “It’s always a tough time when it’s coming to the end of the season and there is nothing really to play for in terms of determining the outcome of the campaign, but we want to end on a high with two good results.
“It’s an opportunity to see a couple of lads in action and it also a chance to get an away win. We are looking forward to Saturday and want to get three points in our last away game.
“There is always a feeling of pride and motivation to go out on the pitch and play for this club and do everything to win. We will prepare right and do everything we can to reward the fans with a win.”
He added: “We will name a strong team for what will be a tough game. There are lads that will come in, but they have been around the first team and played this year so it’s another chance for them.”
FROM THE DRESSING ROOM…
Midfielder Jason Knight spoke to RamsTV to preview the Rams' clash with the Tangerines.
He said: “The season has had ups and downs and while I know there’s disappointment with us being relegated, I think there’s a lot of pride around the place too.
“We’ve seen the unity with the staff and the players with a tight-knit group, which shows in our performances, and that’s great to see, while I have mention the fans and how amazing they’ve been.
“I haven’t seen anything like it since I have been at the club, and they’ve always been great during that time anyway.
“They’ve really stood out this year and been strong and right behind us. They’ve pushed us over the line in a few games, which I think is important that they know that, because there have been games where we’ve maybe not played well but nicked a late goal to get a point or three.
“We’re
taking 4,000 supporters to Blackpool on Saturday and that really is
amazing. We want to go and perform for the and get a good result as well
for them.”
He added: “It has been a difficult season, for us all, but now we want to finish as strongly as we can.”
MATCH OFFICIALS…
Andy Davies will oversee the Rams' final away fixture of the season at Bloomfield Road.
Davies has overseen 33 games so far this season in all competitions, showing 92 yellow cards and two red cards.
His last Derby match was the 1-0 loss at Cardiff City at the start of March, while he also oversaw the 0-0 draw at home to Middlesbrough back in August.
Davies will be assisted by Mark Dwyer and Adrian Waters on the lines, whilst Tom Nield has been appointed as the fourth official.
EFL SUBSTITUTE RULES…
The five substitutions rule has been scrapped for the 2021/22 season, the English Football League confirmed in July.
The rule allowing clubs to make five changes, as opposed to the usual three, was brought in following football's restart in June 2020 after a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given that games had to be condensed into a short period of time it was thought beneficial and allowed managers to make as many as five changes in three intervals during a match.
Clubs had a longer post-break between seasons this time around and so the temporary rule has been changed.
Teams will be able to name seven substitutes but only use a maximum of three.
STREAMING INFORMATION…
With
COVID-19 capacity restrictions lifted and EFL fixtures being played in
front of full crowds once again, the temporary change in streaming rules
is no longer valid.
If you can't make the game in person, other options to catch up with the action on the pitch – including live TV, live radio, streaming of selected matches alongside highlights on TV and online of every Sky Bet EFL game.
Live TV (Domestic)
In the UK, Sky Sports will show 138 Sky Bet EFL matches, 15 Carabao Cup ties and the Semi Finals and Final of the Papa John’s Trophy.
In the case of Weekend Fixtures, the EFL’s designated kick-off times* for Sky Live Matches are usually scheduled as follows:
* Friday evenings at 7:45pm or 8pm
* Saturdays at 12:30pm; Sundays at 12-noon
Within the Sky contract there are other kick-off times that are available to the broadcaster
In the case of scheduled Midweek Matches, live Sky fixtures will be between 7:30pm and 8pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Radio
TalkSPORT offer exclusive live commentaries on national radio across the Sky Bet EFL as well as non-exclusive rights to the Carabao Cup that are shared by the BBC.Both TalkSPORT and the BBC have the ability to broadcast score flash updates across all competitions.BBC Local Radio also have individual commentary deals with selected EFL clubs.
Live TV (International)
Any match shown live on Sky Sports in the UK is made available overseas via the League’s international broadcast partners.As well as this fixture, a minimum of 36 Championship fixtures taking place on Saturdays at 3pm, will be distributed for international coverage, alongside selected League One and Two fixtures, Carabao Cup ties, and action from across the Sky Bet Play-Offs.
A full list of the EFL’s international broadcast partners are available here:efl.com/iFollow/international-broadcasters/
Highlights
In the UK, Quest will continue to be the home for all highlights of matches in the Sky Bet EFL, Carabao Cup and Papa John’s Trophy, with action from a full weekend schedule of matches broadcast at 9pm on Saturdays, and midweek League highlights and Carabao Cup midweek highlights also screened on applicable weeknights. Internationally, a number of the EFL’s broadcast partners show repeat transmissions and highlights.
Streaming
In respect of domestic streaming, the EFL will return to the position as was prior to the pandemic when the live broadcast or streaming of any match in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is prohibited between the hours of 2:45pm-5:15pm on Saturday afternoons.
EFL clubs will have the right to live-stream midweek matches on iFollow or Club equivalent service, with Sky Sports also able to stream the same Championship fixtures to subscribers across their Red Button interactive and digital services.
The position in each Sky Bet EFL division is as follows:
Championship - Domestic
* All scheduled midweek matches (unless selected as one of Sky Sports Exclusive midweek selections)
* Displaced weekend matches – matches which are moved from Saturday 3pm kick-offs for non-TV purposes (at the discretion of the Home club)
* Bank Holiday matches (at the discretion of the Home club)
Championship - International
Overseas supporters can watch live all EFL Championship league games provided that they have not been selected for international television broadcast in a territory that has an overseas broadcast partner
