Derby v Swansea: Side with Swans at Pride Park

Derby v Swansea
Wednesday December 16, 17:30
Sky Sports

Derby held at home, again

Derby missed the chance to move out of the Championship's bottom three as they played out a goalless draw with Stoke on Saturday at Pride Park. Morgan Whittaker could have given the Rams the lead in the first half but saw his deflected shot saved and County went close again after the break when Matt Clarke fired across the face of goal.

A fine performance from Stoke stopper Josef Bursik denied Derby top honours, intervening to thwart Clarke's dangerous close-range header late on as the Rams pressed for a vital victory. Nevertheless, the stalemate saw County extend their unbeaten streak to five, four of them draws, during Wayne Rooney's interim spell in charge.

Rooney said: "We created some good chances. I thought we played some really good football, especially first half when I thought we dominated. It was one of those games where you know if we didn't get a goal in that period, Stoke would have a few moments. But really I don't think they troubled us at all, so I'm pleased with the clean sheet again."

Swansea earn South Wales derby spoils

Steve Cooper felt his Swansea side were close to their best as they claimed a comfortable 2-0 South Wales derby triumph over 10-man Cardiff in the capital on Saturday. Jamal Lowe scored a goal in each half as the Swans secured top honours to stay within touching distance of the Championship's automatic promotion places.

Cooper felt his team's display was among their finest in 2020/21. He said: "Today we weren't far off our best and we picked a good day to be like that. It's right up there because there's so much importance on the game. The result is the most important thing but to think we have done it in the way that we have - that's what I want us to be."

Centre-halves Marc Guehi and Ryan Bennett were both passed fit to face Cardiff, and along with Jay Fulton playing a midfield sweeping role, enabled Swansea to nullify the Bluebirds aerial and physical threats. Cooper must now decide whether to rest and rotate his squad for Wednesday's trip but Morgan Gibbs-White and George Byer are confirmed absentees.

Rams' rotten home record

Derby have enjoyed recent meetings with Swansea. The Rams collected four points off the Swans last season, including a 3-2 success in Wales in the duos last head-to-head back in February. County have earned W3-D3-L0 over the past six match-ups with Swansea since 2010 and have suffered a solitary home reverse against the same opponents since 1981.

Derby's 3.4012/5 goalless stalemate with Stoke on Saturday means the Rams are now unbeaten in five, four of which were drawn, but County have now recorded three consecutive clean sheets in the Championship for the first time in almost three years. However, the hosts remain in the bottom three and without a home league win since June.

Swansea 2.466/4 are amongst the leading pack having been beaten only thrice in their opening 18 outings (W9-D6-L3). Steve Cooper's troops' have proven to be rock-solid competitors, giving few opportunities away, and shipping multiple goals just twice. The visitors have returned W9-D5-L2 when discounting contests with top-six rivals this term.

Side with Swans

Goals have proven hard to come by at Pride Park. Derby's nine home fixtures have featured a measly 1.78 goals per-game with the Rams managing just three goals themselves in almost 14 hours of action. County have fired blanks in nine of their 13 matches with sides inside the top-14, whilst 15 of their 18 games overall have seen Under 2.5 Goals 1.584/7.

No Championship club has collected more clean sheets than Swansea (10) in 2020/21 and the away side's games have also proven consistently low for goals with a further 15/18 (83%) matches failing to break the over 2.5 goals 2.427/5 barrier. With that in mind, it could be worth combining a tight contest along with Swansea to avoid defeat.

So head to the Same Game Multi where 1.9520/21 is available on Swansea Double Chance and Under 2.5 Goals, a selection that's provided profit in a huge 28 (78%) of the duos 36 combined league encounters already this season.