Preview: Derby County vs Coventry City - prediction, team news, lineups

Looking for their first victory of the Championship season, promotion hopefuls Coventry City will travel to face Derby County at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday.

The Rams will be hoping to bounce back after their defeat last time out, while the Sky Blues will be aiming to stay unbeaten this weekend.

Match preview

John Eustace's Derby survived by the skin of their teeth in 2024-25, finishing just one point above Luton Town in the second tier's relegation zone.

Last Saturday, the Rams were beaten 3-1 by Stoke City, and the manager will be extremely disappointed by the fact that his team took the lead through Carlton Morris only to concede three goals without reply, including two in stoppage time.

That defeat has left Eustace's side 23rd in the table, and the boss will be desperate to avoid yet another drawn-out demotion scrap later in the campaign.

With that aim in mind, the hosts could take confidence from their commendable home record that features just one loss from their final six games on their own turf at the end of last season, as well as three wins and two draws.

Additionally, fans may be cautiously optimistic after seeing Derby make it through to the second round of the EFL Cup in midweek with a 2-1 victory against fellow Championship club West Bromwich Albion.

Meanwhile, Frank Lampard's Coventry came close to promotion last term, but a heartbreaking elimination from the playoff semi-finals at the hands of Sunderland saw their dreams dashed.

This time around, the Sky Blues will have their sights set on making the step-up to the top flight, and after dropping two points in a goalless draw with Hull City - who avoided relegation due to goal difference - on matchday one, they are eager for their first win of the season.

Last time out, Lampard's men played out a repeat of their unsuccessful 2022-23 Championship playoff final when they triumphed 1-0 against Luton, now of League One, in the first round of the League Cup.

Looking to build on their midweek victory, the visitors will have to defy their dire travelling form from the tail end of 2024-25, when they lost four of their final five regular season games, drawing the other.

However, should Coventry take maximum points on Saturday, then they could find themselves in the top six before the next matchday, and the psychological boost that an early win could provide may give them the push to make it over the line.

Derby County Championship form:

Derby County form (all competitions):

Coventry City Championship form:

Coventry City form (all competitions):

Team News

Derby already had a lengthy list of absentees to contend with this weekend, but they will now also be without winger Corey Blackett-Taylor after he picked up a hamstring injury against Stoke.

Red Bull Salzburg loanee midfielder Bobby Clark could make his first league start on Saturday in his place, playing in a more versatile role out wide.

Elsewhere, Eustace is still waiting for a number of long-term injured players to return, including defenders Curtis Nelson, Sondre Langas and Kane Wilson, as well as strikers Lars-Jorgen Salvesen and Patrick Agyemang, though loanee Owen Beck could be back in action next month.

As for Coventry, they are missing more than a few players, too, such as midfielders Ben Sheaf and Josh Eccles, who could be ready to contribute to the promotion push later in August.

In their stead, Lampard could turn to Victor Torp and Matt Grimes in the centre of the park, while Jack Rudoni operates in an attacking midfield role.

On the other hand, fans of the Sky Blues will have to wait longer to see Joel Latibeaudiere and Oliver Dovin step foot on the grass.

Derby County possible starting lineup:

Zetterstrom; Nyambe, Batth, Clarke, Forsyth; Jackson, Goudmijn, Thompson, Clark; Morris, Adams

Coventry City possible starting lineup:

Rushworth; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Dasilva; Torp, Grimes; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Ephron; Thomas-Asante