As the 2018/19 draws ever closer to a climax, Frank Lampard will be looking to cap off what has been a remarkable debut season in management with promotion to the Premier League.

His Derby County side came to life in the latter stages of the campaign, snatching a play-off spot off Bristol City and Middlesbrough, and the Rams haven't looked back since.

Their win over Leeds United in the semi-final shocked the whole of the country, and it certainly highlight the character, bravery and quality in Lampard's side after picking up such a crucial win at Elland Road.

Going into the final, their opponents, Aston Villa, have had the better over Derby this season, but the win over Leeds shows that statistics and past records go out of the window in these kind of games.

[ad_pod ]

Villa beat Derby by three goals to nil at Pride Park in November, before thrasing the Rams 4-0 at Villa Park in the reverse fixture - a game in which Ashley Cole will have forgotten about straight away.

The former Chelsea left-back was taken off at half-time that day, to be replaced by Scott Malone, but looks set to start in the final in place of the suspended Malone.

Here, we take a look at that performance in greater detail...

It was a crazy afternoon for both Derby and Cole in March - they found themselves 4-0 down at the half-time break, with Lampard making two substitutions at the interval. Cole was one of two players to be taken off, after what had been a nightmare afternoon for the former England international.

The left-back failed to complete a single tackle, committed one foul, made just one interception and blocked just one shot, on an afternoon where Villa showcased what they are all about going forward.

He accrued an impressive pass success rate of 100% in his 45-minute cameo, but that is probably to be expected after making just 14 passes.

It's fair to say that, going forward, Cole is nowhere near the level he used to be at, but the experience and character he will bring to the Derby side this Monday will be invaluable.