Dominant Derby are up next

You have to admit that Steve McClaren has put together a great side at Derby. I was impressed with them when they came down to the Goldsands last autumn and passed the ball with so much confidence. I also think McClaren has done well to keep hold of the likes of will Young and Craig Bryson, while Jamie Ward and Chris Martin are still putting away the goals. Trying to find a weak squad in their team is pretty hard and even Eddie Howe had eyes for striker Johnny Russell over the summer.

Adam Smith with Derby players last season.

Will Hughes is a midfielder who likes to dictate games.

How are Derby playing away from home? Not too badly with a bruising draws against Nottingham Forest and a tidy away win against Blackburn Rovers recently. They certainly have goals in the team and are steadily climbing up the table. They also powered their way through to the fourth round of the Capital One Cup last week with a 2-0 win against Reading and beat Bolton 0-2 away at the weekend. At home though they have been dropping some points with a few draws on the record.

One player who they have picked up on loan, who is earmarked for a big career, is Jordan Ibe. Jordan is on Liverpool's books and if you remember he played on loan for Birmingham against the Cherries last year when we beat them 2-4 away. He's a neat little winger on his day and he scored last time out against Cardiff City. Another summer signing was the acquisition of Leon Best from Blackburn Rovers. He has not seen that much playing time which underlines the strength of squad that McClaren has.

This will be a much more difficult proposition than Wigan last Saturday. AFCB have to bring their A game and for away matches they have been doing that this season so I am hopeful that the Cherries can get something from the game. With both teams often the draw specialists it may not be the worst prediction to think that AFCB might get a point from this game.

Derby County Home Form:
WWDD

AFCB Away Form:
WLDD

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