Points the prize for Rams & Sky Blues

Two sides whose seasons began promisingly before tailing away meet at Pride Park on Saturday when Derby County host Coventry City. Both clubs need a couple more points to be sure of Championship safety after frustrating campaigns that have seen them plumb the depths more often than hitting the heights.

The Rams have been better in front of their home fans however and will look to make themselves safe by continuing their good record against the Sky Blues at Pride Park before tackling some of the division's big guns in the next few weeks.

'We play Coventry tomorrow and they are probably most similar to ourselves in terms of this season,' manager Nigel Clough told the Derby Evening Telegraph.

'They had a good run, got up there and were not able to sustain it. Now, we are both looking for a win and a draw, something
like that, just to guarantee our safety.'

Andy Thorn meanwhile will be looking to build on last weekend's encouraging win against Watford by rewarding City's long suffering travelling support with a first victory on the road since a late November triumph at Scunthorpe.

'You have to earn the right to play good football and you do that by working hard when you don't have the ball,' he told the official club website.

'All of that came together at Watford I thought but there is still room for improvement. You need your battling qualities and you need to concentrate on the fundamentals.'

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