With the seemingly never-ending November finally on the backburner, Derby County head into the festive month of December with a calendar full of Sky Bet League One fixtures.
Paul Warne’s side will play five matches, three at Pride Park Stadium and two on the road - and with 15 points up for grabs, the month is set to be a big one.
Here’s a look at what’s to come for the First Team, Under-21s, Under-18s and Ewe Rams over the course of December.
03/12 – Derby County VS Sheffield Wednesday (12:30pm kick-off)
December kicks off with a big one as third placed Sheffield Wednesday visit Pride Park Stadium in Sky Bet League One action.
The Rams and the Owls have been used to this being a fixture in a higher division over the years and with both having aspirations of getting there once again come May - this one will bring the heat to the cold of December.
10/12 – Burton Albion Vs Derby County (3pm kick-off)
After a November full of away trips, December’s first game on the road comes much closer to home in the form of the shortest journey of the season - Burton Albion.
It’s just a 25-mile round trip from Pride Park Stadium to the Pirelli Stadium and the Rams will be hoping to make it a better one than their previous two visits which have both ended in defeat.
17/12 – Derby County Vs Forest Green Rovers (3pm kick-off)
The second of three December home games comes against Forest Green Rovers in what will be the first league meeting between the two sides in history.
Only once have the two come across each other in the past and that was in the Third Round of the FA Cup back in 2009. The Rams ran out 4-3 winners that day thanks to goals from Rob Hulse, Martin Albrechtsen, Paul Green and Steven Davies.
27/12 – Bolton Wanderers Vs Derby County (3pm kick-off)
Derby’s trip to Bolton Wanderers that was originally scheduled for Boxing Day was moved back 24 hours due to television coverage and will now take place on 27th December.
Both the Rams and the Trotters, managed by former Derby defender Ian Evatt, have been in and around the top six so far this campaign and will be hoping to keep that going before they meet in what will be the first of the run of festive fixtures.
30/12 – Derby County Vs Cambridge United (7:45pm kick-off)
The final game of 2022 comes at Pride Park Stadium against Cambridge United. This fixture was also moved back 24 hours as a knock-on affect to the Bolton match being picked for Sky Sports coverage and will now be played on 30th December.
The game away at the Abbey Stadium back in October marked the first under the management of Paul Warne, with James Collins scoring twice in a 2-0 win, and it’s fitting that 2022 will round off against the team whom the new era began against.
Under-21s Fixtures
Pat Lyons Under-21s will take part in three fixtures over the course of December – one in the Derbyshire Senior Cup and two in the Premier League Cup as they look to reach the knock-out stages.
06/12 - Graham Street Prims Vs Derby County Under-21s (7:45pm kick-off)
12/12 – Derby County Under-21s Vs AFC Bournemouth Under-21s (7pm kick-off)
19/12 - Brighton & Hove Albion Under-21s Vs Derby County Under-21s (7pm kick-off)
Under-18s Fixtures
Jake Buxton’s Under-18s will take part in three games over the course of December - all of which will be Under-18 Premier League - North matches.
03/12 - Everton Under-18s Vs Derby County Under-18s (12pm kick-off)
10/12 - Leeds United Under-18s Vs Derby County Under-18s (12pm kick-off)
17/12 - Derby County Under-18s Vs Liverpool Under-18s (12pm kick-off)
Derby County Women
There’s just one game pencilled in during December for Derby County Women and that will come against Burnley in the Second Rond of the FA Women's National League Cup.
04/12 - Derby County Women Vs Burnley Women (2pm kick-off)
