Derby County v Leeds United: Big match preview

Check out our big match preview ahead of Leeds United's clash with Derby County.
Kalvin Phillips.Kalvin Phillips.
Kalvin Phillips.

Key Battle - Will Hughes v Kalvin Phillips

Phillips is having his best spell as a first-team player at Leeds United and with Liam Bridcutt injured, the 20-year-old is starting to look like a credible option in the centre of midfield. Hughes has had that reputation for a long time now, although the promise of a transfer to the Premier League has never quite materialised for him. Even so, Hughes is still only 21 as has well over 150 appearances to his name.

Key Man - Matej Vydra

Kalvin Phillips.Kalvin Phillips.
Kalvin Phillips.

Derby’s transfer dealings in the summer were more than a little baffling but Vydra was their big signing and his class in the Championship is not in dispute. Leeds always found him a handful during his time at Watford and he has come into the goals in the past few weeks, scoring against Blackburn and Reading. County will rely heavily on him.

Last time at Pride Park:

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Derby County 1 Leeds United 2

Kalvin Phillips.Kalvin Phillips.
Kalvin Phillips.

Goals: Derby - Martin 48. Leeds - Adeyemi 43, Wood 88.

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Phil Hay’s view: “It did not take the departure of Nigel Pearson to tell us that all is not well at Derby and their form in the first two months of the season has been exceptionally poor. But it is true at the same time that County on paper are not this bad and they’ve shown little signs of recovery in their recent matches. Much as Derby have struggled at Pride Park, Leeds should not expect to have Saturday’s game their own way.”

Match Odds:

Home win - 9/10

Draw - 5/2

Away win - 4/1