Derby v West Ham predictions: Rams ready to rock unhappy Hammers

Where to watch

ITV4, 7.45pm Monday

Best bet

Derby or draw double chance
3pts 21-20 Hills

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Team news

Derby
Experienced defender James Chester is likely to be the Rams' only injury absentee.

West Ham
New signing Danny Ings, who would have been ineligible anyway, is injured along with fellow forwards Maxwel Cornet and Gianluca Scamacca.

Match preview

The selection of televised FA Cup fixtures often riles up football fans but the final game of the fourth round should be compelling viewing as Derby host West Ham on Monday night.

A struggling Premier League club with a dismal away record in the cup – just five wins inside 90 minutes in their last 20 road trips – travel to a League One side who are absolutely flying so there is more than just a whiff of an upset in the air.

Derby have already distinguished themselves against top-flight opponents this season, holding Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield in the EFL Cup before losing on penalties, and they have won seven of their last eight home matches, keeping clean sheets in seven of their last nine.

Rams manager Paul Warne was part of the Diss Town team who won a dramatic FA Vase final at Wembley in 1994 and, while he won't be dreaming of a return to the national stadium just yet, his charges should give West Ham a serious examination.

The Hammers won 1-0 at Brentford in the third round but Said Benrahma's strike was their only attempt on target and their priority is to pull clear of relegation trouble in the league rather than embark on an FA Cup run. 

Jarrod Bowen's first-half brace gave West Ham a vital 2-0 home win over Everton, one of the few top-flight teams in worse shape than them, last time out and that result has eased the pressure a little on David Moyes.

However, after Frank Lampard's Everton exit, the Scot is still favourite to be the next top-flight manager to leave his position and things are unlikely to get any easier as the Hammers' next three league fixtures are trips to Newcastle and Tottenham either side of a home clash with Chelsea.

Moyes needs victories so is likely to start several first-team regulars at Derby but he has a dearth of in-form forwards and Bowen, with just four league goals, is the Hammers' leading scorer this term.

A Derby win and under 3.5 goals is worth considering at around 9-2 and backing the Rams to avoid defeat for a 20th game in a row certainly appeals. 

They had to dig deep to win 2-1 at Port Vale last time out, scoring in the 87th and 89th minutes, but Warne's men – and the home fans – should relish the chance to play on West Ham's nerves.

Morocco centre-back Nayef Aguerd has had an injury-hit start to his career with the Hammers and, having been booked in two of his three Premier League starts, he is an eye-catching price to be shown a card.

Key stat

Derby have not lost any of their last 19 league and cup matches in normal time.

Probable teams

Derby (4-2-3-1) Wildsmith; Smith, Davies, Forsyth, Roberts; Hourihane, Bird; Mendez-Laing, Knight, Barkhuizen; McGoldrick
Subs Stearman, Rooney, Thompson, Collins, Dobbin, Springett, Sibley

West Ham (3-5-2) Fabianski; Ogbonna, Zouma, Aguerd; Johnson, Downes, Rice, Soucek, Emerson; Bowen, Antonio
Subs Cresswell, Fornals, Lanzini, Paqueta, Coufal, Benrahma, Kehrer

Inside info

Derby

Penalty taker David McGoldrick/James Collins
Assist ace Nathaniel Mendez-Laing
Set-piece aerial threat James Collins
Card magnet Conor Hourihane

West Ham

Penalty taker Said Benrahma
Assist ace Michail Antonio
Set-piece aerial threat Angelo Ogbonna
Card magnet Nayef Aguerd

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