A critical period for Derby County: How next five fixtures could shape season

Derby County currently sit in 12th place in League One after seven games. They have managed to earn ten points with three wins, three losses and a draw.

Paul Warne’s side are desperate to gain some consistent form and they will need to if they have hopes of a promotion challenge this season.

After a dissapointing 1-1 draw with Portsmouth in their last game, we have a look at the Rams next five fixtures.

Carlisle United (A) - Saturday 23 September: 15:00

The Rams’ next game comes against newly promoted Carlisle United. One of the longer away trips in the league, Derby fans will make the 376 mile round trip on Saturday to see Derby face a Carlisle side that they haven’t beaten away from home since 2014 in the league cup.

Carlisle sit in 18th currently with one win, four draws and three losses. Paul Simpson’s side will be fairly happy with thier solid start to a season where they aim to survive and cement their status as a League One club.

Last season, Carlisle were promoted via the League Two playoffs when they beat Stockport County on penalties in the final.

They have drawn two in a row and certainly won’t want to drop points again on Saturday.

Cambridge United (H) - Saturday 30 September: 15:00

A slight surpise so far this season, Cambridge have made a good start to the season.

Many had them as relegation candidates seeing as they were close to the drop last year, but they currently sit in 11th, one spot ahead of the Rams with 12 points from seven games.

They have one of the best defensive records in the league and so Derby’s strikers will have to be at their best to help the Rams to a win in this one.

Last season, the Rams got the better of the Us on both occasions with a 1-0 win at home and a 2-0 win away.

Paul Warne will be hoping for more of the same at Pride Park a week on Saturday.

Blackpool FC (A) - Tuesday 03 October: 19:45

Derby’s first game of October will come against newly relegated Blackpool who will be hoping to mount a promotion charge themselves to get them straight back up to the Championship.

The Rams hosted Blackpool earlier in August for a league cup game in which the Tangerines came away with a 2-0 victory in what can only be described as a below-par Derby outing.

Blackpool are one point behind Derby currently winning just two from seven in what has been a dissapointing start to life back in League One.

Even though both sides have had a tough start to the season, this game may get looked back upon come the end of the season.

Cheltenham Town (A) - Saturday 7 October: 15:00

Cheltenham Town have had a nightmare start to the new season. They sit bottom of the league and have lost seven out of eight games with one draw.

They are yet to score a goal so far and have conceded 12.

The Rams will be hopeful that their visit to the Completely-Susuki Stadium will be a successful one and going by form, you would have to back Warne’s side on this occasion.

Cheltenham Town will be desperate to get a result and kick start their season finally.

Charlton Athletic (H) - Saturday 14 October: 15:00

Derby will play their first home game of October against Charlton Athletic.

The Addicks have had somewhat of a slow start after many expected them to be a dark horse playoff contender this year.

They sit in 17th with two wins, a draw and four losses. New signings Alfie May, Tayo Edun and Harry Isted have struggled to make an impact when many believed they would.

The last time the two teams met was last season in Febuary when the Rams won 2-0 at home with goals from Eiran Cashin and David McGoldrick.

There is a good chance that the clash could be postponed however as it will be during the international break and both Derby and Charlton have had players receive call ups recently.