Derby County will head to the London Stadium for a clash with West Ham United in Sky Bet Championship on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
The Rams will be on the road for the third time this season, having claimed their first win of the new campaign last time out – a successful 2-0 away trip to Portsmouth on Tuesday night.
Tuesday also saw deadline day additions to the squad, with Eiran Cashin’s loan return from Brighton and Hove Albion; Mo Fuseini’s loan switch from Union Saint-Gilloise; and David Ozoh’s permanent move from Crystal Palace.
Pre-Match Thoughts
Hear from the Head Coach:
Hear from signing Eiran Cashin, who rejoined the Rams on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion on deadline day:
Opposition
Returning to the Championship after 14 consecutive seasons in the Premier League, West Ham are highly favoured for a straight return to the top flight.
Five points from their opening four games see the Hammers in 12th spot after gaining their first victory of the league season at home to fellow relegated club Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday night – coming out on top of a 4-2 scoreline.
In the dugout
Nuno Espírito Santo’s Championship experience is well documented; the former goalkeeper entered Molineux in May 2017 and orchestrated Wolves’ return to the Premier League at the first time of asking and secured European football for the Midlands club with a seventh-place finish in their first season back in the big time.
He remained Head Coach with the Old Gold until 2021 before spells with Tottenham Hotspur and Al-Ittihad followed.
Two years with Nottingham Forest from 2023 to 2025 proved the Portuguese Head Coach’s ability to secure European football once more, as he registered another seventh-place finish in 2024/25.
After being relieved of his duties on the other side of the East Midlands in early September last season, West Ham recruited Espírito Santo later that month.
Despite suffering relegation, he has been trusted to attempt to repeat the feat he achieved with Wolves, with promotion the expectation at the London Stadium this season.
One to watch
West Ham have managed to keep a majority of their Premier League pedigree in the squad, none more impressive than Jarrod Bowen.
The last time he was operating in the second tier, when still with Hull City in 2019/20, he scored 16 times and provided six assists in 29 appearances before being snapped up by the Hammers halfway through that campaign.
Bowen has since gone on to establish himself in the Premier League, netting 65 and assisting 54 times in his 238 top-tier appearances. He was also part of the Hammers team that won the UEFA Conference League in 2023 and has been a frequent fixture in the England squad.
New Faces
The London club have made nine major additions in the transfer window: defenders Adama Boiro (Athletic Club, loan), Joël Veltman (Brighton), Morato (Nottingham Forest); midfielder Arne Engles (Celtic); and attackers Edvin Austbø (Viking FK), Manor Solomon (Tottenham), Keiber Lamadrid (Deportivo La Guaira), Joël Piroe (Leeds United) and Divine Mukasa (Manchester City, loan).
Previously…
The Rams last met the Hammers in competitive action when the two clubs were drawn together in an FA Cup Fourth Round tie in January 2023. Derby, a League One side at the time, suffered a 2-0 reverse against the then-Premier League outfit.
Last time the teams met in the league the Rams were 2-1 winners at Pride Park Stadium in December 2011 – early goals from Callum Ball and Paul Green winning it for Derby.
Head-to-Head Record
Matches: 77Win: 24Draw: 25Loss: 28Tickets
The Rams will be backed by a sell-out away crowd at the London Stadium.
Tickets for the game are Digital NFC tickets ONLY.
Supporters travelling to West Ham are reminded to download their ticket before arriving at the stadium to avoid queuing or issues when gaining entry.
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RamsTV Audio and Video Coverage
Live audio commentary for all of Derby County’s first team matches in the 2026/27 season – both league and cup fixtures – is available to RamsTV Audio subscribers based both in the UK and internationally.
Information about RamsTV’s Video Live Streaming and other services for this game can be found here.
Match OfficialsReferee: Oliver LangfordAssistant Referees: Mark Stevens and Nigel LuggFourth Official: Lewis Sandoe