OPPOSITION Q&A
Jonno discusses the Rams ahead of the game at Plainmoor
ABOUT ME
I’m a big Rams fan who works as a journalist for the local BBC radio station in Derby, so I can’t really get away from the club! I go to the home matches but getting away tickets is a pretty hard job at the moment so I listen to every minute on BBC Radio Derby
RECENT FORM
It was always going to be an interesting season. We’ve been ok recently – ok being the main word. We’re searching for form under new manager Paul Warne.
HIGHLIGHTS
Highlight for me was coming from behind to beat Peterborough at home with two really late goals. The win over Bristol Rovers was great too – it was a sign of what we could be as a team.
KEY PLAYERS
Key players are Nathaniel Mendez Laing, James Collins and David McGoldrick. NML is rapid and direct. Collins just runs and runs and is brilliant for the team. McGoldrick is just way too good for this level.
THE MANAGER
Paul Warne is the new manager. He likes to get the ball forward quickly with purpose – not necessarily long ball though. He loves getting it wide and getting crosses in.
LIKELY LINE-UP
If it was a league match it would be Wildsmith, Smith, Cashin, Forsyth, Roberts, Bird, Hourihane, NML, McGoldrick, Dobbin, Collins. It’s not a league match though so I wonder whether he will play some squad players, because promotion is the aim
BEST FA CUP MEMORIES
Best memories of the cup are actually not of Derby County at all. When I was really young I was a big Man Utd fan, and that Ryan Giggs goal in the semi v Arsenal will always be memorable
STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
Our strengths are that we’ve got quality in the team (see names above). Our weakness is that we don’t have strength in depth and we have lots of injuries.
CUP UPSET
I’m very scared about an upset this weekend. It would be very typical for Derby to fall foul of a cup upset, particularly with Torquay deciding to thrash someone in midweek too!
PREDICTION
Match prediction…I’m a pessimist so I think a 1-1 draw.
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