Derby welcome the Championship newcomers to Pride Park this Saturday as they look to pick up their first home victory of their 2016/17 league campaign.
Leandro Bacuna of Aston Villa (L) and Johnny Russell of Derby County in action
Derby County’s Championship start may not be what they were expecting as the club sit 18th in the Championship table with just one win and one goal scored in their opening five matches.
And with promotion favourites Newcastle United coming to town this weekend, things certainly don’t get any easier for last season’s play-off semi-finalists.
But perhaps the Rams should be more positive about picking up three points from Saturday’s match and here are three reasons why:
1. Derby’s excellent record against the Magpies
Derby are unbeaten in their previous four meetings against Saturday’s opponents, which is particularly encouraging given the fact that those matches came when Newcastle ran away with the Championship in 2009/10 and during Derby’s disastrous 2007/08 campaign where they were relegated on just 11 points – the lowest in Premier League history.
In fact, County’s sole Premier League victory came against Newcastle and they also managed a 2-2 draw at St. James’ Park in the reverse fixture.
Derby County’s Kenny Miller celebrates scoring against Newcastle
During Newcastle’s title-winning Championship campaign, the Rams ended the Magpies’ 15-game unbeaten run with a shock 3-0 win at Pride Park.
The Tyneside club also went unbeaten at home that season and Derby managed a 0-0 draw, meaning they took more points off the Magpies than any other side during that season.
So even when the odds are stacked against them, the Rams have still managed to come out on top against United and it wouldn’t be too surprising to see them do it again.
St James’ Park
2. Newcastle don’t travel well at all
Newcastle have one of the worst away records in English football in 2016 with just one win and two draws to their name since the turn of the year.
The Magpies’ 1-0 victory at Bristol City last month was the first time the team had tasted victory on their travels since they beat Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane last December.
Since then, the Magpies have lost 11 of their 15 games on their travels, failing to score in eight of those matches, which included an opening day Championship defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie and Isaac Hayden with referee Simon Hooper
3. Nigel Pearson knows Newcastle well
The former Newcastle caretaker manager will be looking to get one over on his old employers this weekend.
Pearson spent two seasons on Tyneside before eventually moving on to Leicester City where he masterminded the Foxes’ great escape in 2014/15, which included a 3-0 victory over United at the King Power Stadium.
That day Pearson’s Leicester side exposed the Magpies’ defensive frailties and he’ll feel his Derby side can do the same again as Rafa Benitez’s new signings settle in to their new surroundings.
Overall, these three reasons suggest that Derby fans should be feeling quite optimistic ahead of Saturday’s clash which will kick-off at 5:30pm and is available on Sky Sports.
Derby County manager Nigel Pearson
Will Derby beat Newcastle this weekend?
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