Preview: Derby County vs. Bournemouth

Derby County could move into the automatic promotion spots in the Championship with a victory over Bournemouth at the iPro Stadium on Saturday.

The Rams have been in impeccable form recently, forcing their way into what looked like being a two-horse race for second place between Burnley and Queens Park Rangers.

A win over the latter last Monday helped matters, while they made it six games without defeat with a narrow 1-0 victory away to Sheffield Wednesday earlier this week.

They now sit just two points behind second and would move into the top two if they win and Burnley lose at home to Nottingham Forest.

Derby have been almost unstoppable under Steve McClaren, losing just twice in 17 matches - both defeats coming in a minor blip at the start of the calendar year.

They have lost just one of their last 11 games at the iPro Stadium, winning seven of their last eight in front of their own fans.

They have been the league's entertainers this season and their matches have seen more goals than any other team, with 99 flying in at either end.

Their tally of 59 goals scored is the highest in the division, while their defensive record of 40 against is the worst in the top half of the table, and two more than 22nd-placed Charlton Athletic have shipped.

Johnny Russell is expected to return to the side for the hosts, with Jamie Ward making way, while Paul Coutts remains on the sidelines through injury.

Bournemouth will be content with floating around in the middle of the table this season, and it looks unlikely that they will be dragged into a relegation battle or launch a late charge up the league.

Eddie Howe's side have only won one of their last eight games, but they are steadily picking up points as they have been doing all season.

The Cherries did Derby a favour last week by holding Burnley to a 1-1 draw, but that will also act as a warning to McClaren's side that they are capable of competing with the high flyers.

Bournemouth have never really found a good level of consistency this season, but a midtable finish would certainly go down as a relative success in their first season in the Championship.

Yann Kermorgant is still waiting for his first start for the club but is again expected to be on the bench on Saturday, while Charlie Daniels and Elliot Ward may not have recovered from injury in time.

Recent form

Derby: WDWDWW

Bournemouth: DLWLDD

Possible starting lineups

Derby: Grant; Wisdom, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth; Hughes, Eustace, Bryson; Russell, Martin, Bamford

Bournemouth: Camp; Francis, Elphick, Cook, Harte; O'Kane, Arter, Pugh, Ritchie; Rantie; Grabban

Sports Mole says: 3-1