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

Derby County will look to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to Shrewsbury Town when they welcome Exeter City to Pride Park for Tuesday's League One contest.

Exeter, meanwhile, will be desperate to end their woeful run of form, having lost each of their last five league games.

Match preview

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After putting together a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions, Derby saw their encouraging spell of form come to an end in Saturday's away trip to Shrewsbury.

Their opponents missed a first-half spot kick before they eventually took the lead in the 56th minute following a Conor Hourihane own goal.

The narrow 1-0 defeat frustrated the travelling support, who made their feelings known at full time, with their side currently in 11th position.

With the Rams sitting four points adrift of the playoffs, Paul Warne knows that he is under pressure to close that gap sooner rather than later.

Although the Derby boss will be determined to pick up maximum points on Tuesday, his side have struggled for victories on home turf, winning only one of their five home league games this season.

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Exeter made a promising start to the 2023-24 campaign after collecting 16 points from their opening eight matches.

However, the Grecians have failed to add to their tally in their last five matches, having suffered five consecutive defeats in League One.

Gary Caldwell's side have failed to score in four of those five matches, including Saturday's 2-0 home loss to Wigan Athletic.

The Grecians sat at the top of League One following their win over Cheltenham Town on September 16, but their downturn in form has seen them slip down the table to 16th position.

Having taken a point from their previous two meetings with Derby County in the EFL, the visitors will attempt to record their first-ever league win over the Rams in Tuesday's encounter.

Team News

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Derby are still unable to call upon Liam Thompson and Tyreece John-Jules, while Jake Rooney is a long-term absentee due to a serious knee injury.

Defender Callum Elder and wide-man Joe Ward have both returned to full training and could feature on the bench for Tuesday's contest.

Warne may be tempted to make a couple of changes to his side, with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Martyn Waghorn and Hourihane in contention to start against Port Vale.

As for the visitors, they are without the service of Finland international Ilmari Niskanen and Chelsea loanee Dion Rankine.

In positive news, Cheick Diabate has returned to full training and could feature among the substitutes for the midweek encounter.

Reece Cole missed out on a starting berth at the weekend, but the midfielder could be given a place in the side for Tuesday's contest.

Derby County possible starting lineup:

Wildsmith; Nyambe, Nelson, Cashin, Forsyth; Smith, Hourihane, Mendez-Laing, Bird, Barkhuizen; Collins

Exeter City possible starting lineup:

Sinisalo; Sweeney, Aimson, Hartridge; Harper, Carroll, Cole, Jules; Aitchison, Mitchell; Muskwe

We say: Derby County 3-1 Exeter City

After Derby suffered a narrow defeat to Shrewsbury on Saturday, we think the meeting with out-of-form Exeter will provide the Rams with the perfect chance to return to winning ways.

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