DERBY, Key man: Tom Ince

DERBY
Position: 2nd
Points: 65
Form: DDWWLL
Up next: Birmingham (h)
Sky Bet promotion odds: 8/15

Key man: Tom Ince

When Ince scored twice on his Derby debut in a 4-1 win over Bolton – the team’s seventh victory in eight games – it seemed as though the Hull loanee would be the man to fire the Rams back to the Premier League. But despite netting five times in his first three games, Derby have stuttered since Ince’s arrival. The challenge for Steve McClaren is to rediscover the right blend once more, while continuing to get the best out of the talented former England Under-21 international.

Tom Ince made an immediate impact upon his arrival at Derby

Beagrie’s expert view

Derby are looking to go one better than last year. Generally they have responded to setbacks by going on little runs and they have to do that again. Steve McClaren made fantastic acquisitions in the loan market to cover, initially, Chris Martin’s injury with Darren Bent and Tom Ince, both of whom have scored and created goals. There is a problem now, though, with Bent injured and it is pivotal how they replace him. Derby’s automatic chances could succeed or fail on the next part of their recruitment.

Opta stat: The Rams have the best Championship shot conversion rate in 2014/15, 19.6 per cent