Chelsea have been very impressive so far this season, they haven't been beaten since their encounter in the Community Shield where they lost to City 2-0. They have won all 3 of their Europa League group stage matches and managed to end Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the season with a 2-1 win at Anfield in the Carabao Cup.
The Blues were on display on Sunday thrashing Burley 4-0 even without star player Eden Hazard to add to their 10 wins out of 14 competitive games (11W 3D) since the Premier League season began.
Hazard is unlikely to be featured in this game either and a few other players could be dropped as Chelsea embarks on a run of 3 games in the next 8 days. This will come as an advantage to Frank Lampard's Derby County side and help prepare his team in good faith for his return to Stamford Bridge, but the manager knows fully well that it's not going to be an easy task.
Derby County are by no means pushovers though. Frank Lampard has done a great job for the Rams since taking over as manager. While their Saturday's 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough wasn't the best result the could have hoped for, they sit just 4 points off the top of the Championship table and have lost only 4 games this season. They are impressive in front of goal having not scored in only 3 of their 18 competitive games this season. They have scored in 9 out of 11 games away from home, and while Chelsea on the other hand haven't had the best luck keeping the ball out of their own net. and with some players likely to be rested tonight, i think there’s a good chance of Derby County finding the back of the net.
MY PREDICTION:
Although Derby County defeated Morinho's Manchester United to advance to this stage of the competition, and as impressive as they've been this season I still don't see them getting pass Chelsea. My prediction would be: Chelsea 3-1 Derby County
APPRECIATION
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