Fri 06 Feb - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 6mins
Derby County return to Pride Park Stadium when they host Ipswich Town in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon (12.31pm kick-off).
The Rams enter the clash against the Tractor Boys buoyed by a thumping 5-0 victory on the road against Bristol City last Friday.
John Eustace’s charges have garnered the second-best away record in the Sky Bet Championship this season, with the result at Ashton Gate last Friday notching the Rams’ eighth win on their travels.
Now the Derby boss will be looking to see this translate into home form with the visit of the Tractor Boys on Saturday, with four wins and six draws from fifteen matches so far at Pride Park.
Tickets for the Rams' latest home game are still available and can be purchased online, over the phone or in person from the Ticket Office.
The Ticket Office is open from 9am until kick-off on matchday.
Supporters are urged to buy tickets in advance to avoid the matchday price increase.
Find out more ticket details for Saturday's match by clicking here.
Ipswich Town had a slow start to the season, but they are hitting their straps now as they chase an immediate return to the Premier League.
As autumn headed for winter, the pre-season betting odds that made Ipswich one of the favourites for promotion were beginning to look fanciful. Now they are looking like a good investment.
Perhaps it was the hangover from a painful Premier League relegation with the Tractor Boys winning only four of their 38 top-flight matches last season, or just the gelling time needed for a heavily reshaped squad, but the opening weeks of the campaign were somewhat hit-and-miss for Kieran McKenna’s team.
By the end of October, Town had hardly troubled the top half of the Championship table having won three of their opening 10 league fixtures and bowing out of the Carabao Cup in the first round, beaten by League Two Bromley on penalties.
But since then, the form expected from such a talent-laden squad has returned. The re-arranged trip to Portsmouth scheduled for last Tuesday evening would have been their 30th league game, but was postponed on the day of the match due to flooding at Fratton Park. Had they played – and won – that game, they would have been travelling to Pride Park today sitting third.
Even so, in the 19 Championship games played since the start of November, they have lost only three times and have not been outside of the top six since the beginning of December.
Most recently, after taking 22 points out of a possible 27, they have lost one and drawn one from their last two games, which, coupled with the postponement of the Pompey away game for a second time, has allowed top-two Coventry City and Middlesbrough to open a seven-point gap.
But the Tractor Boys will not be holding back in their challenge for direct promotion and were active in the winter transfer window to add to their squad.
Sam Szmodics left to join the Rams of course, but that move came after Ipswich had brought in defensive midfielder – and promotion winner last season – Dan Neil on loan from Sunderland, as well as in-form forward Anis Mehmeti, who cost a significant fee when moving from Bristol City.
Earlier this week (4th February) marked World Cancer Day. As part of this, Derby County Community Trust and Derby County are proud to introduce the Active Recovery XI.
The line-up consists of participants from the Trust’s Active Recovery programme. Active Recovery, in partnership with University Hospitals Derby and Burton (UHDB), supports people recovering from or living with cancer to regain fitness, strength and confidence.
Each member of the Active Recovery XI has their own individual experience with cancer; some are currently going through treatment, some are now in remission, and some sadly have a terminal diagnosis. Their strength, resilience and dedication is admirable.
At the Ipswich Town fixture, these participants will proudly walk out alongside your Derby County starting XI.
Macmillan Cancer Support was named Derby County’s official charity partner at the start of the 2025/26 season. Macmillan refers patients into the Active Recovery programme and also offers ongoing support to participants on the programme throughout their journey via the information centre at UHDB.
Fans can TEXT TO DONATE to Macmillan. Text 'RAMS' to 70550.*
Head Coach John Eustace sat down with RamsTV to preview Saturday’s home clash with Ipswich and reflect on the transfer window and last Friday night’s win in Bristol.
Defender Matt Clarke also spoke to RamsTV ahead of Derby’s return to Pride Park against Ipswich.
Get your Derby County matchday programme, 'The Ram' - including an exclusive interview with Captain Lewis Travis - at Pride Park Stadium on Tuesday!
The Ram is sold around the stadium ahead of the game for £4 or can be ordered for home delivery.
Find out more by clicking here.
Josh Smith will hold the whistle at Pride Park in his 18th Sky Bet Championship match of the season. He has so far handed out 60 yellow cards and one red card (a second yellow) in his 17 matches so far this term.
Jacob Graham and Daniel Leach will be the assistants, while Ben Toner holds the fourth official responsibilities.
Kick-off will be at 12.31pm on Saturday. The extra minute is part of the EFL and the British Heart Foundation's Every Minute Matters campaign - bringing attention to the importance of learning CPR.
To find out more about Every Minute Matters and how you could make a live-saving difference - click here.
Live audio commentary for all of Derby County’s first team matches in the 2025/26 season - both league and cup fixtures - is available to RamsTV Audio subscribers based both in the UK and internationally.
Information about RamsTV's Video Live Streaming and other services for this game can be found here.
RamsTV's Match highlights will be available on dcfc.co.uk and the Derby County App shortly after the game.
Is it your first time visiting Pride Park Stadium to watch Derby County in action? Here's a handy guide to help you along the way with all you need to know!
If you're a Derby County supporter attending the fixture at Pride Park Stadium, you can find a wide range of details in our Matchday Hub by clicking here.
If you are a fan of our opposition at Pride Park Stadium, full information on visiting Derby County can be found in our Away Supporters Hub by clicking here.
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