Derby and Leeds to both score in 1st leg at Pride Park
3365
Saturday evening sees the second of the play-off semi-final 1st legs at Pride Park as Derby County play host to Leeds United with with neither team in particularly convincing form.
Arguably, Derby County appear to be in the better form of these two teams as Frank Lampard’s side put together a crucial six-match unbeaten run in the last few weeks of the season to eventually finish in 6th place and claimed the last remaining play-off spot.
However, The Rams needed both Bristol City and Middlesbrough to slip up which they duly did; Bristol City could only muster 1 win from their last 6 matches overall, while Middlesbrough lost 6 on the trot from March to early April.
Although Derby County laboured against lowly QPR recently, they did eventually win 2-0 and the hosts come into this clash having won their last four home matches on the trot with wins over Rotherham United, Bolton Wanderers, QPR and West Brom - the latter having already booked their play-off place some weeks beforehand.
Derby County’s home record this season against the top six clubs reads W2, D1, L2 but interestingly, 4 of these 5 matches resulted in both teams scoring. The Rams will also be very aware of their heavy 4-1 defeat at home to Leeds United though in their opening home match of the season back in August.
There’s no two ways about it - Leeds United blew a golden chance of automatic promotion and they now have to endure the lottery of the play-offs if they’re to make it to the promised land of the Premier League.
As recently as mid-March, the Yorkshire club were sitting in 2nd place and just two points behind league leaders, Norwich City, following a convincing 3-0 win away at Reading at the Madejski Stadium which was Leeds’s fifth win in six matches.
Leeds United’s bid for promotion seemed to be progressing smoothly at that point as they also held a two-point cushion ahead of Sheffield United, but we’ve all become accustomed to Leeds’s sudden collapses in form from previous disappointing campaigns and sure enough, Marcelo Bielsa’s side subsequently won just 3 of their next 9 matches to finish in 3rd place.
This dramatic decline in form also includes losing 3 of their last matches overall in the Championship with losses to Wigan Athletic, Brentford and worst of all, a 3-2 loss at rock-bottom Ipswich Town.
Even though Leeds United are in poor form right now and are leaking goals, they still carry a serious goal threat as 13 of their 23 away matches resulted in both teams scoring.
Derby still remain unconvincing though, so both teams to score here looks on the cards.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
CH
413425
1
2 - 1
2.80
11°
3.30
3.30
3.02
2.50
1
-1
1
0 - 1(0 - 0)
Home
Football 
Basketball
Hockey
American Football
Baseball
Rugby
Volleyball
Handball
Esoccer
