Derby County play their game in hand this evening when they host Wigan Athletic hoping to narrow the gap between themselves and the play-off places.

Frank Lampard’s side have lost their last three games in a row, the most recent being a 4-0 hammering away to Aston Villa last weekend.

The Rams were four goals down at the break and failed to reply in the second half as they recorded a third successive defeat – winning just once in their last six.

There will almost certainly be changes for tonight’s meeting between the two sides at Pride Park.

Lampard could make a multitude of alterations to his starting XI tonight, but the Rams boss will try to keep changes to a minimum in favour of continuity.

With that said, here are TWO changes that the Derby boss must make to his Derby team tonight.

Scott Malone IN, Ashley Cole OUT

The 38-year-old has started the last three games for the Rams and looks to be fading a little, so having come off in the loss to Villa – it is time for Scott Malone to be given a starting berth once more.

The former Huddersfield left-back had been a constant starter for most past before Cole arrived.

And his age is showing to some degree, so the fresh legs of Malone might suit tonight’s game.

Martyn Waghorn IN, Mason Bennett OUT

Martyn Waghorn was dropped for the defeat to Villa and was an unused substitute.

Having been one of their better players in recent weeks, the former Ipswich striker, but has not scored for the last four games.

This evening could see him return with the club drawing another blank ahead of Mason Bennett who was taken off after an ineffective 55 minutes at Villa Park.

Bringing back in the 29-year-old could be a shrewd move this evening.