Northampton v Derby County: FA Cup fourth round: prediction, odds & free tips

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Northampton Town v Derby County in the FA Cup fourth round.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 8pm Friday

Best bet

Derby County
1pt 5-6 Coral

Team news

Northampton
Scott Wharton starts a three-game ban and Harry Smith (ankle) and Shaun McWilliams (knee) are sidelined.

Derby
Krystian Bielik (knee) is a long-term absentee and Mason Bennett, Ikechi Anya and Jack Marriott remain sidelined. Graeme Shinnie (hamstring) could return.

Match preview

Wayne Rooney is unbeaten in four games as a Derby player and can help the Rams ease past Sky Bet League Two hosts Northampton in the FA Cup fourth round.

The signing of Rooney has raised Derby's profile and there will be a full house at Sixfields where supporters will be eager to catch a glimpse of England's record goalscorer.

Rooney's arrival has also shone a light on Derby's financial governance which has brought them into conflict with EFL bosses.

Last week the EFL charged Derby with breaching spending rules and they have referred the club to an Independent Disciplinary Commission to decide the case.

Derby are vigorously contesting the charge but there is a lot at stake.

Last season Birmingham were deducted nine points for being found guilty of breaching profitability and sustainability regulations and, if Derby were treated in the same way, it would plunge them into a relegation battle.

One way of boosting their coffers would be to go on an FA Cup run and they made a great start by winning 1-0 at Crystal Palace in the third round.

Phillip Cocu's side head to Northampton on a six-match unbeaten sequence – their best of the season – and look worthy odds-on favourites to get the victory.

Northampton are also unbeaten in six and rose to a tough challenge in the third round when they won 4-2 at League One side Burton.

However, they would need to play right at the top of their game to seriously challenge Derby and it is more likely they could be below par just three days after the rigours of Tuesday's 1-1 league draw at Leyton Orient.

In an ideal world Cobblers manager Keith Curle might have wanted to give some key players a rest but his team are in the thick of a tight promotion race.

He went with a strong side against Orient and there was a price to pay late on when centre-back Scott Wharton was sent off, triggering a three-match ban.

Wharton's absence means Curle will have to change his favoured back three of Wharton, Charlie Goode and Jordan Turnbull, who have played together for the last ten matches.

Northampton have been scoring plenty of goals with 11 in their last four games and are strong from set-pieces.

But losing Wharton takes away one of their best headers of the ball and Derby are likely to dominate from open play thanks to the quality of Tom Huddlestone, Duane Holmes and Rooney in the centre of the park.

The Rams will be tested at times but their extra quality should prove decisive, allowing them to reach the fifth round for a second successive season.