Burnley
Blackburn Rovers
Coventry City
Derby County
Leeds United
Luton Town
Middlesbrough
Millwall
Norwich City
Portsmouth
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United
QPR
It’s gameweek three in the Championship already. For Derby County and Bristol City, it’s an opportunity to kickstart the weekend in the best possible way.
The Rams host the Robins live on Sky Sports on Friday evening at Pride Park, with the two sides having had near opposite starts to the campaign.
Gerhard Struber masterminded a 4-1 opening day victory over Sheffield United before being held to a 0-0 draw by Charlton Athletic. Meanwhile, John Eustace was beaten 3-1 by Stoke City away from home on matchday one, before Coventry City ran out 5-3 victors in the East Midlands on Saturday.
Nevertheless, it’s another chance for Derby to get their season going, and one pundit believes that they can get back to winning ways under the lights.
- READ MORE – How David Moyes really feels about young Everton star as Derby County and Preston North End show interest
Sam Parkin backs Derby County to beat Bristol City at Pride Park
The Rams ran out 3-0 winners over Bristol City last season at home. It was arguably Paul Warne’s best performance while in charge of the club and now Eustace will be hoping to replicate that.
However, with Derby in the bottom three, improvements are needed. Yet Sky Sports pundit Sam Parkin believes that they can turn it around on Friday evening. Speaking to Benjamin Bloom, he said: “Who knows, who knows? Bristol City had a thumping win at Sheffield United, then a stalemate last time out.
“I think this will be low-scoring, I went 1-0 Derby last week, and you know what I’ll go for John Eustace to get a masterplan together this week and I’ll extend that.
“I’ll go for Derby to win 2-0 at home against Bristol City, which I’m not even sure I believe saying it.”
- READ MORE – Sheffield Wednesday fans call for retired goalkeeper as Pierce Charles injury confirmed – ‘I’m not joking’
The Rams need three points soon
There is no denying that this has not been the start to 2025/26 that Derby supporters would have hoped for, but there is plenty of time for the club to turn this around.
David Ozoh believes the Rams ‘can be dangerous’, and with new signings potentially on their way, this side can still develop into a top team.
More defensive stability is needed, and Eustace will not shy away from that fact. Max Johnston will help provide cover at right-back, while Sondre Langas is on his way back from injury.
Nonetheless, the test of Bristol City is a big one, and Derby have to find a way to get their first point on the board.