Derby County have been warned about one key factor ahead of their League One clash with Cambridge United.
Two games. Four points. The equation is simple for Derby County if they wish to seal promotion from League One back to the Championship.
The Rams are coming towards the end of their second season in the third tier, which has seen plenty of twists and turns. However, as things stand, the odds are firmly in the favour of Paul Warne and his side for the final two weeks.
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A trip to Cambridge United is up next, before a home clash with Carlisle United that could generate a special atmosphere. There is a job to be done at the Abbey Stadium though, with Garry Monk looking to steer his team towards survival.
It makes for a showdown that will be far from easy, with the home side set to pull out all the stops to earn some valuable points.
Derby County Cambridge United warning
As Derby prepare for their trip south, they have already been warned of what to expect from their opposition. Current Charlton Athletic boss Nathan Jones aimed a dig at the U’s surrounding the condition of their pitch.
Speaking after his side’s recent 1-1 draw with Cambridge, Jones told the club media: “I mean the pitch didn’t allow too much good, fluid football. The wind then takes any kind of, you know, that’s what you get at this level.
“We went to Fleetwood the other day and it was brutal. Today was brutal. The pitch is dry and I think they probably haven’t watered it in eight, ten years probably. So it’s very difficult to do that and that’s what happens sometimes at this level.”
Cambridge United vs Derby County preview
Derby will have a challenge on their hands when they face Cambridge, with the task likely to consist of breaking them down. The U’s average the fourth-lowest possession in the division, according to WhoScored, with an average of 43.4%.
It means that the Rams are likely to see a lot of the ball during the match. That adds an extra challenge to the point Jones made about the pitch, suggesting it may be tough to string together many passes.
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Derby will have to display some of their battling tendencies that they’ve shown all season, with a clinical edge to finish any chances that do fall their way. Cambridge don’t score many, with the fourth least in the division, but they don’t concede many either.
Monk’s side are robust at defending set-pieces, conceding just ten goals from them so far, ranking as fourth best in the division. That said, they are poorer at scoring from set-pieces, with the second fewest goals in the division (8), while the Rams have the most goals scored from those situations (23).
It’s certain to be a tricky game that may not be easy on the eye, but Derby must look to bulldoze their way through on the road to promotion.
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