Derby vs QPR preview: Championship clash live on Sky Sports Red Button
Watch live on Sky Sports Football Red Button from 2.55pm on Easter Monday; Kick-off is at 3pm
Monday 22 April 2019 14:55, UK
Duane Holmes will again miss out for Derby as they chase a Championship play-off spot against QPR.
Midfielder Holmes has a thigh problem and is not likely to be in contention until next weekend at the earliest. Scott Malone remains under observation with a rib problem.
Friday's draw at Birmingham leaves County two points outside the top six with a game in hand.
QPR fear that Jordan Cousins could be set for a lengthy absence. Cousins was carried off on a stretcher during Friday's 2-1 loss to Blackburn with a serious knee injury after falling awkwardly in the wake of an accidental collision with team-mate Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Grant Hall and Jake Bidwell's injuries will be assessed ahead of the game, with mounting defensive concerns leaving caretaker boss John Eustace to admit: "We're down to the bare bones". Striker Matt Smith could start after scoring as a substitute against Blackburn.
Opta stats
Derby have won their last four home league matches against QPR, winning each match without conceding a single goal.
QPR are winless in five Championship games against Derby (W0 D2 L3) since a 2-0 win at Loftus Road in March 2016.
Derby have won five of their last six league matches on Easter Monday (W5 D1 L0) - they won 1-0 last year on Easter Monday against Preston.
QPR have won none of their last 19 away league matches played on Monday (W0 D4 L15) since a 1-0 win at Swindon Town in January 2000 under Gerry Francis.
Derby are looking to win three straight home league games under Frank Lampard for the first time this season, having beaten Rotherham and Bolton in their last two such matches.
Tom Lawrence has scored three league goals against QPR, with two of those strikes coming in home matches for Ipswich in November 2016 and Derby in November 2017.
Prutton's prediction
We've spoken all too many times, over the past five years or so, about Derby's constant ability to scupper their chances of promotion to the Premier League for the first time since the 2007/08 season, but this time I think Frank Lampard has led them to a point where they really are in with a shout.
That said, they are struggling to string wins together and haven't won more than one game in succession since early December. They should have enough at Pride Park, though.
David Prutton predicts: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
