Tuesday afternoon presents the perfect opportunity for two promotion rivals in Derby County and Middlesbrough to secure an invaluable three points at the top end of the Sky Bet Championship table.

Derby County will go into the clash at Pride Park full of confidence, on the back of an extraordinary 4-3 away win at Norwich City on Saturday. Late goals from Florian Jozefzoon and Jack Marriott clinched all three points for Frank Lampard's men, in miraculous fashion.

Middlesbrough, on the other hand, will be looking to ignite a run of wins after a comfortable 2-0 home win over Ipswich Town at the weekend. Tony Pulis' men have won just two of their last seven league games, and sit level on points with the Rams in the play-off places.

It's a massively important game for both sides with an invaluable three points at stake, and Sky Sports expert David Prutton has predicted a 2-0 home win for the Rams.

"What a victory for Derby on Saturday. To come back onto the pitch after the floodlights had gone out and score two goals to win the game was an incredible performance from Frank Lampard's side.

Middlesbrough had a far more comfortable afternoon at home to Ipswich so could be the fresher side heading to Pride Park, but they have struggled against the better sides this season and I fancy a home win."

Derby currently sit 6th in the Sky Bet Championship table, four points clear of Birmingham City in 7th place, whilst Boro sit one place above the Rams on goal difference in 5th place.

The Verdict

I'm going to have to agree with Prutton on this one.

Derby, on the whole, have been impressive at home this season, and it's that form that will help them secure a vital three points against Pulis' men on Tuesday.

Boro are just too inconsistent for me - they have only won five out of twelve games away from home this term and are on a rocky patch of late. I can see Derby edging past them by a goal to nil.