Gary Rowett has described Derby Countyâs clash with Cardiff City tomorrow as a defining fixture, highlighting it as a brilliant opportunity for the club in the race for the play-offs.
Derby welcome Cardiff to the Pride Park Stadium in tomorrow eveningâs rearranged fixture, as the Sky Bet Championshipâs promotion race gathers pace.
The Rams are well out of form in the Championship, with Rowettâs side slipping out of the top-six in recent weeks and entering tomorrow eveningâs fixture in seventh.
However, Derbyâs play-off rivals arenât in action, with tomorrowâs contest the Ramsâ game in-hand.
Avoiding defeat against the Bluebirds will move Derby back ahead of Millwall in the race for sixth, with Rowett telling @dcfcofficial how important tomorrow eveningâs fixture was:
Heading into tomorrowâs crunch clash, Derby are well out of form, having lost their previous three Championship fixtures.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burton Albion and Middlesbrough have all recorded victories over the Rams, leaving Derby needing to avoid defeat tomorrow to keep their fate in their own hands.
Following tomorrowâs visit of Cardiff, Derby travel to Villa Park to face Aston Villa, before welcoming Barnsley to the Pride Park Stadium.
The Verdict Â
There is no getting away from how big tomorrow nightâs clash is for Derby.
Rowett will know the importance of avoiding defeat, but victory has to be Derbyâs aim, as the play-off race is too close to call.
It hasnât been a good 2018 for the Rams, but they still have an excellent opportunity to achieve something remarkable if they break into the play-offs.
Derby fans⦠Let us know your thoughts!