Wolves vs Derby: Inside track on The Rams

Luke Hatfield spoke with Stephen Nicholson from the Derby Telegraph to get a closer look at Gary Rowett's side.

Wolves obviously got the better of Derby earlier this season, do you think the Rams will have that game in their thinking this time around?

No, not really.

That 2-0 defeat was in Derby's first home game of the season and it feels a long time ago.

Derby set up 4-3-3 and they were second best on the day. They ditched the 4-3-3 after that defeat and went more 4-2-3-1.

Only five of the 11 that lined up against Wolves back in August are likely to start this game.

Derby will be fully aware of Wolves' strengths.

Derby have struggled for consistency recently. What has happened to Gary Rowett's side since their better form earlier this season?

Most teams have a wobble during a season. Cardiff City lost four on the spin, Aston Villa had won only one of their last five before Tuesday night's game against Cardiff and Fulham failed to win in six during October and November.

Such runs are normal in the Championship.

Derby suffered in February and March when a sequence of eight games without a win saw them drop from second to fifth.

Fine margins are often behind runs of form, just as fine margins are found in most Championship matches.

Derby's eye-catching run of only two defeats in 24 matches and 11 clean sheets in 14 league games lifted them to second.

They were defending well, making precious few mistakes, enjoying a few breaks/decisions and had a clinical edge when chances fell to them.

But mistakes crept in, one or two decisions went against them, the form of a number of players dipped and Derby suddenly were not defending as solidly as a team.

Plus, the effort expanded in recovering from a sluggish start to the season and surging up the table appeared to catch up with them.

Such a combination of factors is bound to lead to a deterioration in results.

The Rams are still sat in the play-offs. Do you think they can pick up their form and solidify their position? If so, why?

They have won their last two having gone eight without a win.

The 1-0 win they scraped at Preston on Easter Monday was crucial and they backed it up by beating Bolton 3-0.

Successive wins have given the players a timely boost.

I tipped Derby for a top-six finish before a ball was kicked and I am sticking by that prediction.

Have Derby done much transfer business through January? Could their business play a part in the game?

Derby signed striker Cameron Jerome from Norwich City and Kasey Palmer on loan from Chelsea.

Both players are likely to be on the bench against Wolves.

Jerome's 13 appearances include only five starts and he has scored just one goal. Palmer has two goals in 11 games, but he has started only two matches.

Who should Wolves fans worry about most in terms of Derby's players? Who is the stand-out performer?

Matej Vydra is top scorer and very much the go-to man for goals.

He has 20 this season in 31 starts.

Tom Lawrence has two goals in his last two games having hit the winner at Preston on Easter Monday and Derby's third in the 3-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

He has the ability to be a match winner.

How do you expect Derby to face up against the league leaders?

Derby have, in the main, used a 4-2-3-1 system under Gary Rowett this season.

Tom Huddlestone and Joe Ledley are back together as the pairing in central midfield and their influence is important.

They provide control, know-how and a shield for the back four.

The partnership of Matej Vydra and David Nugent up front has also been revived. Vydra plays as the No.10 off striker Nugent.

Does Gary Rowett have any injury concerns? There were noted worries earlier this calendar year?

There does not appear to be any injury worries from the victory over Bolton Wanderers.

Bradley Johnson (ankle), Marcus Olsson (back/knee), Ikechi Anya (calf) have not been available for the squad in the past two matches and they are set to miss out again.

What do you make of Wolves' promotion credentials, judging by what you've seen. Could they cut it in the Premier League?

Wolves impressed when they recorded a relatively comfortable 2-0 win at Derby back in August and they have been the best team in the Championship, at times by some distance.

The Premier League, however, is a very different environment and test as most promoted teams find.

Staying in the top flight has to be the first aim of any team that goes up.

Your match prediction?

2-2 draw

You can follow Stephen on Twitter by searching for @SNicholsonDT.