Northampton vs Derby Prediction: Rams can rule the roost at Sixfields

Four straight successes have given Derby County renewed hope in the League One title race and they will start as strong favourites for their Saturday (KO, 15:00) trip to Northampton Town, who find themselves in mid-table mediocrity.

While the Rams will be disappointed not to go on and secure their Championship return from their current second-placed position, the Cobblers sit 14th and have little at stake as they are 13 points adrift of the playoff places and 15 points clear of relegation. Below is our Northampton vs Derby prediction, alongside team news and match odds.

Team News

Northampton have a number of defensive injuries to contend with, as left-back Patrick Brough has recently joined Jordan Willis, Akin Odimayo, Ali Koiki and goalkeeper Lee Burge on the treatment table.

Leading scorer Sam Hoskins missed last weekend’s defeat to Wycombe with illness but should return, although Tony Springett and Kieron Bowie are unlikely to be involved due to international call-ups.

Derby have been given a welcome boost with Conor Washington set to make his return, but this match still comes too soon for top scorer James Collins.

Fellow striker Dwight Gayle limped off in the opening half of last weekend’s 1-0 win at home to Bolton, while Tyrese Fornah is a doubt and Joe Ward and Tom Barkhuizen face late fitness tests.

However, Max Bird, Josh Vickers, Tyreece John-Jules, Ryan Nyambe and Jake Rooney remain sidelined.

Match Odds

Unsurprisingly, title-chasing Derby are 4/6 to secure their fifth-straight league win, while Northampton are 9/2 to land the upset. A draw is available at 11/4.

Over 2.5 goals can be backed at 1/1, while two or fewer goals is 8/11 and it is 8/5 for the Rams to record a win to nil - something they have managed in three of their last four league outings.

Derby -1 goal on the handicap @ 15/8

Derby are going through the gears at the right time of the season and four straight wins, concluding with last weekend’s gritty 1-0 success over promotion rivals Bolton, will have confidence levels rising.

Paul Warne’s side were emphatic 3-0 winners on their last away trip to Bristol Rovers and there is every chance that they can repeat the trick against Northampton, who are winless in five and have seen a positive season peter out.

The Cobblers have lost their last two games against Blackpool and Wycombe to nil and that lack of firepower doesn’t bode well against a Derby side that have kept six clean sheets in their last ten league outings.

When these two sides locked horns at Pride Park in October, Derby ran riot in a 4-0 success and they are fancied to win the reverse fixture at Sixfields pretty comfortably too.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing to score anytime @ 11/5

Derby are still missing their leading scorer Collins and, with other injuries to contend with in the striking department, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing may carry their chief goalscoring threat.

Mendez-Laing is capable of still operating in the Championship and has been pivotal to Derby’s success this season, scoring nine goals and grabbing 15 assists in 40 appearances.

One of those goals came when Derby downed the Cobblers 4-0 at Pride Park and he looks good value to bolster his seasonal tally given that Town appear to be lacking motivation.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.