KICK-OFF TIME
Due to television coverage (Sky), this is a lunchtime game. And it kick-offs at the unusual time of 12.31pm.
The reason being is that all 36 EFL matches up and down the country this weekend start a minute later than originally scheduled.
The changes are to highlight the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Every Minute Matters’ campaign which has inspired more than 400,000 to learn CPR.
Jack Clarke’s late, late penalty salvaged Ipswich a draw against Derby at Portman Road. (Image: Ross Halls)
REVERSE FIXTURE
The reverse fixture at Portman Road last August might be the worst 2-2 draw I’ve ever witnessed.
Town did the hard work when taking the lead through Jacob Greaves’ header at a corner, but then shot themselves in the foot when conceding two really poor goals, both of which stemmed from direct play, after the break.
After that, the Rams resorted to tactical fouls and time wasting. It came back to bite them on the bum as Jack Clarke converted a 106th minute penalty to salvage a point. John Eustace had the audacity to question where a ‘world record amount of stoppage-time’ came from, while Kieran McKenna voiced his frustration at a ‘broken game’.
I can’t see Derby taking a similar approach on home soil though, given their current form.
Lars-Jorgen Salvesen celebrates after sealing Derby’s recent 5-0 win at Bristol City. (Image: PA)
RAMS ON THE CHARGE
Derby have started 2026 on fire.
They started the year with victory against Middlesbrough, picked up further wins against Preston and Charlton, and come into this game off the back of a 5-0 thrashing of Bristol City (which contained five different scorers).
A solid and streetwise side has now started to click in attack. USA striker Patrick Agyemang, a £7.3m addition last summer, is really finding his feet in English football, while fellow forwards Rhian Brewster and Ben Brereton-Diaz are finally rediscovering form of old.
There’s a sense the squad was levelled up during January too. The capture of Sammie Szmodics on loan from Ipswich, late on deadline day, capped a window which also saw left-back Derry Murkin (FC Utrecht), winger Jaydon Banel (Burnley) and midfielder Oscar Fraulo (B.Mönchengladbach) recruited.
A win today would, momentarily at least, see John Eustace’s men break into the play-off places.
Ipswich lost 3-1 at Sheffield United last time out on the road. (Image: Ross Halls)
HOME/AWAY FORM
Ipswich’s away form is under the microscope. Kieran McKenna’s men won at QPR, Swansea and Hull in quick succession back in November. They took three points back from high-flying Coventry at the end of 2025 too. The latter is the only away victory in the last six though. Oxford, Blackburn, Leicester, Millwall and Sheffield United have all been difficult days. With trips to Wrexham (twice) and Watford on the horizon, Town need to show they’ve got the mentality to perform on the road.
Derby, meanwhile, are the opposite. They top the away table, but sit 20th in the home standings with a record of W4 D6 L5 at Pride Park.
Dan Neil could make his debut for the Blues. (Image: Ross Halls)
WHO PLAYS?
Might Jacob Greaves come into the team for his first league start, at centre-back, since early December? I think there’s a chance given Cedric Kipre’s form has dipped a little of late.
Who will McKenna go with as Azor Matusiwa’s midfield partner? I’m not sure this is a Jens Cajuste type of game. So that leaves a choice between Jack Taylor and new boy Dan Neil. I think the latter’s full debut might be slated for next Friday’s FA Cup game at Wrexham given his last competitive start was back in August.
Jack Clarke on the left and Anis Mehmeti in the No.10 looks a good bet given Jaden Philogene (kne) and Marcelino Nunez (ankle) remain sidelined. And I imagine Wes Burns will go again on the right having had a week to recover thanks to the Pompey postponement.
Who starts up top after no new striker arrived on deadline day? I’m saying George Hirst. I think he could get some joy running in behind the central defensive duo of Clarke and Dion Sanderson.
Sammie Szmodics joined Derby on deadline day but can’t play against his parent club. (Image: Ross Halls)
THREE EX-BLUES
We were so close to Szmodics being the major narrative going into this game, but because his exit ended up being a loan it means he’s ineligible to play in this one.
The Derby starting XI could still contain three ex-Blues though in the form of left-back Callum Elder (a loanee from the League One days), centre-back Matt Clarke (a product of the Blues academy) and tenacious midfielder Lewis Travis (who helped get the Championship promotion over the line).
Kayden Jackson is now longer at the Rams. He moved to hometown club Bradford during the January window.
George Hirst scored when Ipswich won at Pride Park in 2023. (Image: Pagepix)
HAPPY HUNTING GROUND
Pride Park has been a happy hunting ground over recent years.
The last visit there was a 2-0 victory, in which Conor Chaplin and George Hirst both scored, as part of the memorable charge towards League One promotion.
Town have won four of their last five trips there. There have been quite a few 1-0 wins along the way, with Callum Connolly, Luke Varney, David McGoldrick and Carlos Edwards all bagging winners.
STU’S PREDICTION
When Ipswich last had a game at Portsmouth postponed they went on to beat Coventry 3-0. I think people have too quickly forgotten that this is a talented group that recently won five in a row. I toyed with predicting a 1-0 away win, but the fact Derby have scored in 20 consecutive league games just stopped me going with a clean sheet. Let’s say 1-1.