Preview: Derby County vs. Northampton Town - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, meanwhile, will be hoping to return to winning ways after picking up just one point from their last four games.

Match preview

Derby boss Paul Warne is starting to find himself under pressure, having won just three of his last nine league matches (D3, L3).

Their inability to find consistency leaves them in ninth place and five points adrift of the playoffs, although they do have two games in hand over sixth-placed Stevenage.

However, Derby will be keen to forget about Stevenage at the moment after they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Steve Evans's side in Saturday's away meeting.

Derby winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing levelled the scoring in the 38th minute to cancel out Jordan Roberts's opener, but strikes from Alex McDonald and Kane Hemmings ultimately condemned Warne's troops to a second straight away defeat.

The Rams will be pleased to return to Pride Park, where they are unbeaten in four games and have the chance to claim consecutive home league victories for the first time since February.

After winning promotion from League Two last season, Northampton have found it tough going on their return to the third tier, as they currently sit outside the drop zone on goal difference with 14 points to their name from as many matches.

The most recent of those four victories took place against Reading earlier this month, but the Cobblers have struggled since that result, losing three of their last four matches.

The Cobblers suffered consecutive away defeats to Shrewsbury Town and Bolton Wanderers, before they had to settle for a 2-2 home draw against Leyton Orient after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser.

Northampton headed back on the road for Saturday's trip to the Memorial Stadium, where they fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Bristol Rovers, as Emmanuel Month's second-half effort proved to be a mere consolation.

Having lost three consecutive away games, Jon Brady's side will be low on confidence ahead of their first league meeting with Derby since January 1967.

Derby County League One form:

D

W

D

L

W

L

Derby County form (all competitions):

W

D

W

L

W

L

Northampton Town League One form:

W

W

L

L

D

L

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Team News

The Rams are still without the injured trio of Jake Rooney, Liam Thompson and Tyreece John-Jules, while defender Callum Elder remains a doubt.

There is also uncertainty surrounding Martyn Waghorn's availability after the forward was left out of Saturday's matchday squad as a precaution.

Warne could be tempted to make a number of changes following the disappointing defeat to Stevenage, with Korey Smith, Tom Barkhuizen and James Collins all pushing for starting spots.

As for Northampton, captain Jon Guthrie is set to miss a fifth consecutive game, as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

Guthrie is joined in the treatment room by Tyler Magloire and Danny Hylton, while it remains to be seen whether Jack Sowerby will be passed fit in time for Tuesday's contest.

The visitors are also unable to call upon the suspended Jordan Bowie, who will serve the second game of a three-match ban.

Derby County possible starting lineup:

Wildsmith; Nyambe, Nelson, Cashin, Forsyth; Smith, Hourihane; Barkhuizen, Bird, Mendez-Laing; Collins

Northampton Town possible starting lineup:

Burge; Willis, Monthe, Sherring; Odimayo, McWilliams, Leonard, Brough; Hoskins, Pinnock, Simpson

We say: Derby County 2-0 Northampton Town

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