Derby v Sheffield Wednesday predictions: Rams can grab a vital victory

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Derby County v Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship on Saturday

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 12.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Derby
1pt 11-8 Betfred, Hills

Team news

Derby
Curtis Davies, Andre Wisdom, Teden Mengi, Krystian Bielik and Lee Gregory remain sidelined.

Sheffield Wednesday
Tom Lees is out but Chey Dunkley, Joost Van Aken and Massimo Luongo have all returned to training and could be considered.

Match preview

Derby manager Wayne Rooney has gone through some difficult moments in his first season in the dugout but he can lead the Rams to victory over Sheffield Wednesday in their Championship relegation cliffhanger.

Rooney was used to winning games during his playing career but has had a very different experience with Derby, who are hanging over the precipice after losing their last six league matches.

Defeat to Sheffield Wednesday will mean the Rams drop below the second tier for the first time since the 1985-86 season, but a point and will leave them safe as long as Rotherham fail to win away to Cardiff.

Only a victory will guarantee Derby's second-tier status but their fate is in their hands which is something that Rotherham and Wednesday must be envious of.

All three relegation places are yet to be decided but basement boys Wycombe are as good as gone due to their minus 33 goal difference.

Wednesday must rely on defeating Derby and hope Rotherham drop points.

And they approach the game boosted by the return to the training ground of manager Darren Moore, who has had a tough time since testing positive for Covid-19 in early April.

It is hard to attach much blame to Moore, who inherited a team perched second bottom in the table - exactly where they are now -when joining from Doncaster on March 1.

The 47-year-old has proved himself to be an excellent manager in League One but could be heading back there next season because the Owls have a miserable away record – losing on eight of their last nine road trips – and are unlikely to enjoy a final-day reprieve.

Key stat

Sheffield Wednesday have lost eight of their last nine away games

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