Carling Cup Round 1

After Saturdays disappointment against Doncaster is this another banana skin in the making? Derby have faired poorly against lower league opposition in the league cup going out in each of the last six seasons to teams at least one league below including a 3-1 defeat to tonights` opponents Lincoln City in 2004 at Sincil Bank. Lincoln opened up with a 1-0 defeat against Rotherham on Saturday so will be also be looking for their first win tonight.

The Carling Cup tends to be an opportunity for the lesser used players to get a game but with thirteen new faces this summer it`s hard to predict who will start Paul Jewells` first league cup tie in charge of the Rams. After the defeat to Doncaster will he go with the same squad and give the weekends starting line-up a chance to make amends or will he bring in some of those who missed out? Liam Dickinson may have expected to start this one but there are reports Jewell is looking to loan him out already and he may want Ellington and Hulse to continue to build their partnership and get in the goalscoring groove. Other contenders will be Steve Davies, who looked lively when he came on for Pereplotkins, and maybe even Robbie Savage who may be back in Jewells plans after replacing the ineffective Kazmierczak although quite whether Savage is back in the good books remains to be seen.

Derby will see this as an opportunity to get that vital first win of the season and should have to much for their League Two opponents, with nearly a full squad to choose from and Paul Jewell still waiting for his first win expect a strong Derby line-up in this one. Ticket prices are down to encourage a bigger crowd although after previous league cup embarrassments the numbers are sure to be down on the season opener.

'The pressure's on Paul Jewell and Derby County - they're the favourites to go through.'
Lincoln manager Peter Jackson talking to bbc.co.uk

'We wanted a win but, unfortunately, we didn't do the job. We missed a lot of chances in the first half. In the end, it's cost us the game.'
Andrejs Pereplotkins explains the Doncaster defeat in the Derby Evening Telegraph

Alan Stubbs may miss out after coming off on Saturday with a knock to his knee. No other new injury worries although it`ll be hard to pick a squad from those available to Jewell after the weekends result.

Good performance on Saturday bar the finishing and will see this game as an opportunity to get on the scoresheet and hopefully kick start his season. Held the ball up well and worked his socks off against Doncaster without the end product as the ball just didn`t fall for him at times.

Former Leicester team-mates Frank Sinclair and Stefan Oakes look set to miss out with knocks but a full squad to choose from other than the two.

Former Leicester City player who, if fit to play, has a sweet left foot and will be dangerous from set pieces.

Latest results -

Derby County
Doncaster (H) 0-1

Lincoln City
Rotherham United (A) 0-1

Lower league opposition, at Pride Park, in a game we will be expecting to win…. sound familiar? The last few years have provided a number of poor performances and even worse results from Derby, despite this Derby to take the game 2-0 in a scrappy encounter. Still, any win will do at the moment for Paul Jewell.

16th August v Bristol City (Coca-Cola Championship) Ashton Gate

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Spain