Sept 18: Derby v Blackburn Betting Tips

Derby v Blackburn, Wednesday, 7.45pm, Championship

DERBY dominated possession on Saturday yet did nothing with it as they crashed 1-0 at Rotherham.

The corners count delivered my only salvation with over 9, a few to spare I believe, and cards. Anyone would of thought it was Christmas Eve.

Derby can blame everything, the ref gave them nothing all game – apart from cards he didn't seem to have any control of the match.

Tom Lawrence did a rash challenge on a Rotherham player in their half and got an early bath. Deserved. Hero to villain in just 2 matches. The challenge created handbags at dawn on the pitch and at some stage I recall thinking a Rotherham player could end up joining Lawrence but somehow it stayed a yellow card.

About the only thing meaningful I predicted was the action would statistically happen after half-time.

It is the first time in a while I've watched my own team have no clue about a game plan. Often as fans we see glimmers of something that could lead to a potential net-buster.

At HT I thought ” hairdryer time” and it's all going to come together. Derby started to turn the tide a little but then it all went to pot with the sending off. To be fair to them did look a bit more “urgent” with 10 men than when they had a full team but Rotherham deserved the win.

We'd swapped from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 and I was confident it would be a lightbulb moment. It wasn't to be.

Frank Lampard has made three changes – Bryson for Huddlestone, Bennett for Lawrence, Nugent for Waghorn.

Team

Carson
Bogle/Keogh/Tomori/Forsyth
Bryson/Johnson
Bennett/Mount/Jozefzoon
Nugent

I thought we’d make 4 changes but we’ve made 3. Lawrence out was because of his red card, Bryson in for Huddlestone seems the right move and Waghorn out for Nugent.

In fairness to Waghorn he never really got a sniff up front on Saturday. Bennett can be menacing, he’s spent most of this season making late cameo appearances and he’s earning his stripes when he’s on the pitch.

I’d like to see what he can do over 90 minutes, he’s been with the club coming through the academy and I think he’s ready. An extra 10 per cent from everyone on the pitch tonight and we’ll get the win. Surely it can't be any worse than the rubbish we had to endure on Saturday.