Derby vs Lincoln Prediction: Rams star to continue scoring run?

Derby County saw an impressive winning run of five games in League One come to an end over the weekend as Wycombe Wanderers held them to a draw at Pride Park. But Paul Warne's side have a chance to initiate another streak when they welcome Lincoln City on Thursday night (19:45). The Imps are also enjoying a five-game run without defeat.

There are five points and three league places separating the two teams heading into this one, with Derby also having two games in hand on their East Midlands rivals. A win here could see them go into Christmas as high as third if other results were also to go their way, so there is a huge incentive for the Rams.

Match Odds

With the impressive run that Derby have been on in recent weeks, you won't find much value in backing them to win at 1/2. A draw is marketed at 16/5, while Lincoln are 6/1 to inflict a first league defeat since October on the Rams.

Both teams to score in this encounter is 11/10. Over 2.5 goals is valued at EVS.

Team News

Derby attacker Tom Barkhuizen will be pushing for a start against Lincoln after coming off the bench to score against Wycombe in the last match. His second goal in as many league games. If Rams forward Conor Washington is passed fit after a recent injury issue, he may still be kept in reserve to aid in his recuperation.

Lincoln have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Derbyshire.

Derby and both teams to score @ 11/4

This game is a tough one to call because both these sides have been in excellent form recently, but this match-up should live up to the billing of one between two promotion rivals.

With home advantage, however, we feel as though we need to give favour to the home side. They may have seen their winning streak ended on Saturday but it was down to a last-gasp penalty deep into injury time. Rams boss Warne will likely have drilled into his players the need to show the same composure they were a couple of weeks ago so that that they can start another winning streak, and continue their vast improvements on the field in recent weeks.

It remains important that they still took a point against Wycombe because it means that they are still unbeaten in the league since October. And as previously mentioned, they could head into Christmas as high as third, so expect the players to be pumped up for this clash.

But so too will Lincoln. They are also in good form and with their opponents having two games in hand on them, they could really benefit from taking points off one of their promotion rivals. That is why we are backing them to get on the scoresheet in Thursday's contest, but unfortunately for Imps fans, we do believe that the home advantage will help Derby get back to winning ways.

Tom Barkhuizen to score anytime @ 5/2

Fresh after scoring two goals in as many games, Barkhuizen will be knocking on Warne's door for a place in the starting lineup against Lincoln. The former Preston North End man has had a tough start to the season, with those goals being his first in the league, but he is hitting form at the right time ahead of a congested festive period.

Barkhuizen will have more confidence from the weekend than any other of his team mates and Warne could see this as an advantage against Lincoln. The attacker has had to be patient for a consistent run of games with just six starts in 14 appearances in League One in 2023-24, but he has taken his latest opportunity with both hands by scoring in successive matches.

And even if he is called upon from the bench against Lincoln, he will bring such a threat to the Rams' attacking line that could either help them change the game or perhaps even aid them in seeing it out. Should a chance at goal come his way, we are confident that he will put it away.

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