Derby County v Fulham: match betting preview, prediction & free tip

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Derby v Fulham in the Sky Bet Championship.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Football & Main Event, 7.45pm Friday

Best bet

Derby 0 on Asian handicap
1pt 9-8 bet365

Team news

Derby
Tom Huddlestone is a doubt. Duane Holmes is still sidelined.

Fulham
Defenders Alfie Mawson, Maxime Le Marchand and Terence Kongolo are out.

Derby County v Fulham preview

Derby are making a late bid for the Sky Bet Championship playoffs and they can continue their recent good form by beating Fulham at Pride Park.

The Rams have suffered just two defeats in their last 13 matches, jumping to 13th in the table, nine points adrift of the playoffs.

There are probably too many good teams between them and the top six for their playoff endeavours to become a reality but they are playing like a promotion-chasing side.

The bedrock of their success has been their performances in front of their own fans, where they have lost just once since August.

The arrival of Wayne Rooney from the United States has been a massive coup, not only because of the class that he brings to a level which he could grace in his sleep. He has also infectiously improved those around him, including the likes of 19-year-old Max Bird, who must be pinching himself at the realisation that he is sharing midfield duties with England's record goalscorer.

Derby have scored 16 goals in their last six games in all competitions and are a potent threat, especially when given room to play behind defenders. Huddersfield denied them that space last week and the upshot was a fairly dull 1-1 draw but Fulham are likely to be more front-footed and that should help Phillip Cocu’s men.

The Cottagers, of course, are bang in the promotion mix and determined to hit back from Saturday’s extraordinary 3-0 home defeat at the hands of bottom club Barnsley. It was the second time this season that they had lost to the Tykes.

That was a rare loss for Fulham, although it was the latest in a string of patchy performances. They have not won a game by more than a single-goal margin since November.

They need 21-goal Aleksandar Mitrovic to be fit and firing as the Serb has scored over 40 per cent of his side’s goals.

Derby draw no bet is around the 11-10 mark but you can pinch slightly better value about the Rams off scratch on the Asian handicap.

Key stat

Fulham have conceded only one goal in their last four away league games.

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