The undoubted pick of the midweek fixtures on matchday 30 in the Championship takes place at the Goldsands Stadium as top two Bournemouth and Derby County do battle.

The pair are both on 57 points and separated by just three goals going into the game, with Middlesbrough hot on their heels a point further back in third.

Bournemouth, the Championship's top scorers, currently occupy top spot thanks to their superior goal difference. Eddie Howe's side have won two on the bounce to maintain their place at the summit following a run of three defeats in four games last month.

On Saturday they held off a strong Wigan Athletic start before running out 3-1 winners at the DW Stadium, with Callum Wilson on target twice to reach 14 league goals for the season.

Fellow striker Yann Kermorgant was also on the scoresheet, so the returning Tokelo Rantie, who had been on duty with South Africa at the Africa Cup of Nations, will have to settle for a place on the bench.

Derby enter the match as the form team in the Championship, having picked up 15 points out of a possible 18, including three wins in a row.

At the weekend they were comfortable 4-1 winners at home to Bolton Wanderers, with Thomas Ince making an instant impact on his debut with two goals after not finding the net in a six-game loan spell with Derby's bitter rivals Nottingham Forest earlier this season.

Jeff Hendrick also netted a brace against the Trotters and, like opposite number Howe, Steve McClaren will probably go with the same lineup that performed well in matchday 29.

The Rams have also enjoyed plenty of success in recent away games, scoring seven in three straight victories and conceding none. The only team with a better record on their travels this season? Bournemouth.

Derby have the better record in recent meetings between the two sides, winning the reverse 2-0 at the iPro Stadium in September and also not conceding in three victories since Bournemouth returned to the second tier last season.

Bournemouth:

Form in Championship: WLWLWW
Form in all competitions: LWLLWW

Possible starting lineup: Boruc; Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Pugh; Kermorgant, Wilson

Derby:

Form in Championship: WWLWWW
Form in all competitions: WLWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Grant; Shotton, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth; Mascarell, Hughes, Hendrick; Ince, Martin, Ward

Sports Mole says: 1-2

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