Derby boss Frank Lampard has told his players to rise to the challenge of playing at Elland Road tomorrow, as the Rams look to beat Leeds on their own patch.

Marcelo Bielsa's men will be backed by around 35,000 home supporters on Wednesday night and they are sure to make it hostile for the visitors with a place at Wembley at stake.

And, Lampard is aware of that and told his players that they need to be ready for it and embrace the situation when speaking to Derbyshire Live.

"It’s a strong atmosphere. It’s a stadium of history. It will be tough but the players need to rise to that. There’s pressure for us but there’s also pressure for them."

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The east Midlands outfit can take heart from the fact that Leeds appear to have buckled under that pressure at home in recent weeks, with the Whites losing two of their last five in Yorkshire.

They were crucial defeats too, a 1-0 loss at home to promotion rivals Sheffield United, whilst ten man Wigan won at Elland Road over Easter too, a loss which seriously impacted Leeds' top two hopes.

The Verdict

There's no doubt that the crowd will be a factor on Wednesday but as Lampard suggests, Derby can use it to their advantage.

If they can nick the first goal or frustrate Leeds, then the crowd will get restless and that is exactly what the visitors will want.

Of course, it's a tough ask but Derby have to believe they can turn things around but it will need a massive performance from all involved.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.