"Relentless" Derby County prepare for promotion chasing Stevenage

Derby County face a big promotion battle this weekend as they host seventh placed Stevenage.

The Rams are in good form winning three wins from four games and come off the back of one of their best performances all season with a 3-0 win away at Exeter City.

Paul Warne will be delighted with his side's form that has put them in second place and a big contender in the promotion chase.

They face a Stevenage side who have been the surprise package of League One this year having just earnt promotion from the fourth tier last season.

Steve Evans' side have fluctuated in their form recently but remain one of the toughest teams to beat.

A talisman striker

Stevenage are one of the higher scoring teams in the league and a lot of those goals come down to talisman striker Jamie Reid.

Reid is the joint top scorer in League One on 17 goals in 30 games and having the best season of his career. The 29 year-old is a strong forward who likes to score physical goals making him a tough player to defend.

Last time the Rams faced Stevenage, Reid wasn't able to score but he did contribute to a 3-1 Stevenage win with his attacking play in a game where the Rams weren't at all in control.

The fact that Steve Evans' side has a 17 goal striker and can still score three goals without him scoring is a sign of just how dangerous they can be.

Keep the momentum going

On the other side of the ball, Derby County recorded one of their best performances of the season on Tuesday night with a win over in form Exeter City.

The Rams won 3-0 in a dominant display showing how dangerous they can really be. Paul Warne's side were relentless with their attacking play as they used the ability to counter attack against an Exeter side who ended the game with 70% possession.

The same game plan could be used against Stevenage who play with a 'tough to beat' mentality. If the Rams are able to catch them on the counter it could be the perfect opportunity to score a couple of goals.

With a Derby win, they will remain in second place, however it is the perfect chance to pull away from the teams behind and put more pressure on league leaders Portsmouth.

Predictions

It should be a well fought affair on Saturday with the Rams tipped as slight favourites especially at home. A 2-1 scoreline would be a fair reflection on the two teams' positions and current form.

If Derby were to put a good performance in, it would keep their momentum and confidence going before the face another tough game against Barnsley next week.

An important game at Pride Park for both sides Derby County vs Stevenage kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 17 February.