Derby County vs Queens Park Rangers Prediction: Derby are aiming to avoid fourth defeat

Derby County will welcome Queens Park Rangers at Pride Park Stadium in Game Week 9 of the English Championship. Derby are aiming to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat. Who will come out on top after 90 minutes?

From successive wins over Bristol City and struggling Cardiff City before the international break, came to an end with three straight losses in succession for Derby County in the Championship. That is a harsh reminder of how tough it might be for the team to avoid relegation this season. Defeats to Sheffield United and Norwich City have brought Derby back into reality, and hopes were slim as they faced Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday. Goals from Jobe Bellingham and new signing Wilson Isidor sealed the win for the Black Cats.

On paper, Derby is actually at 14th place after eight matches, two points clear of the relegation zone and six points behind the playoff spots. This time around, the team will have to rely on their solid home form. All nine points were won at Pride Park from victories over Middlesbrough, Bristol City, and Cardiff. Since no new striker was acquired during the summer transfer window, the attacking men of Derby will have to make up for that to date until at least January, when the situation is expected to get better. Indeed, Kayden Jackson and Kenzo Goudmijn have scored two goals each to date.

Zetterstrom; Wilson, Nelson, Cashin, Phillips; Goudmijn, Osborn, Adams; Mendez-Laing, Blackett-Taylor, Jackson

QPR has confirmed that they have extended the contract of head coach Marti Cifuentes after successfully keeping the club in the second tier last season. The contract extension was despite a winless streak for QPR both in the Championship and EFL Cup after the clubs resumed the matches after the international break in September. This breaking news comes at a time when the team is in need of revival after the devastating loss to Hull earlier in the week as they gear up for the East Midlands this weekend. QPR has so far won only one game during this season, with victory over Luton Town, and is ranked at 22 but can move to 13 if they win at Pride Park. Despite a hectic start to the campaign, there are positives in the shape of striker Michael Frey, who has managed to net three times in eight matches. Derby, despite having a good home record, may have cause to believe that they can at least hold on for at least one point as three of their seven points have come from away games.

Nardi; Dunne, Cook, Fox, Paal; Madsen, Field; Dembele, Chair, Saito; Frey

Derby have done pretty well in Championship matches when at their own place, taking three of their last four, that should boost them to take the leadership away from QPR, who are also looking vulnerable against injuries and facing their third straight loss on a trot. QPR face their third straight loss this weekend when they visit Pride Park to play Derby.