Championship: Derby to continue ace recent record at Hillsborough
Published:
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | December 5, 2015
Sheffield Wednesday v Derby County
- Championship
- Sunday, December 6th
- Kick-off: 13:15 GMT
- Hillsborough, Sheffield
- Live on Sky Sports 1
Rampant Rams keeping it clean
Derby County are unbeaten at Hillsborough since 2005, and going into their latest showdown with Sheffield Wednesday have won to nil in four of their last five matches.
Paul Clement’s Rams are thus 29/20 favourites with Coral for victory in the Steel City against their much-improved hosts, and better at 27/10 to do so without conceding. Like the visitors, the Owls made an interesting change in the dugout this summer, giving Portuguese coach Carlos Carvalhal the chance to take them on.
While they’ve only earned victory once in their last five, Wednesday started the weekend outside the Championship play-offs on goal difference, so they’re 19/10 to defeat Derby. A draw, meanwhile, which has been the result in four of the last seven head-to-heads, is an 11/5 chance.
Owls attackers must maintain form
Coach Carvalhal’s compatriot Lucas Joao is leading Owls marksman with seven in all competitions, and three in his last two league games.
At 7/4 in the anytime market, Portugal international Joao is well worth a wager, and alternatively at 13/2 to score last having done so in both of those matches.
Fernando Forestieri (2/1 anytime) and Norwich City loanee Gary Hooper (15/8 in the same market) give Wednesday striking strength in depth, which has been lacking for some time.
Box-to-box midfielder Lewis McGugan has goals against the Rams for both Watford and the Owls over the last two seasons, so he’s worth an anytime punt at 4/1.
County cast queuing up to score
Although Clement has obvious scoring threats Darren Bent and Chris Martin at his disposal, it’s to those charged with supplying the centre forwards that represent real value.
Box-to-box midfielder Bradley Johnson bagged a brace for Norwich in their promotion campaign last term when previously paired with Wednesday, so anytime odds of 14/5 look enticing.
Engine room cohort Jacob Butterfield dented Hull City’s promotion push in what was a tough test for Derby last time out, and he’s 5/1 in the same market to net again here.
A win by three goals would take County into an automatic promotion place and, as they boast the best defence in the division as well as travelling to opposition with no clean sheet in the last four, a 5/1 price to score over 2.5 is tempting.
Related
Coral’s top tip: Derby boast the best defence in this division; couple that with a superb recent record at Hillsborough and there’s terrific odds of 27/10 for County to win to nil against Sheffield Wednesday.
