Kick-off: 1945, 13/09/2019
Stadium: Pride Park
TV: Sky Sports
Both Derby and Cardiff are not doing as well as expected in the Championship and each manager may settle for a draw when they meet on Friday night.
The Rams are yet to win at Pride Park after three league matches on home turf, while the Bluebirds have only picked up one point from the same number of away games.
Punters can get 23/10 for them to share the spoils in this televised fixture and that is our opening Derby vs Cardiff prediction.
A Look At Derby County’s Betting Odds
Phillip Cocu started his reign as Derby boss with a 2-1 win at Huddersfield but has struggled to build on that initial promise.
To be fair, the Rams have had a tough schedule, drawing with Swansea and West Brom at this venue, either side of a narrow loss to Bristol City here.
County picked up a decent 2-2 draw at Stoke, but now need to steady the ship following a 3-0 drubbing at Brentford before the international break.
After that lacklustre display, Cocu told BBC Radio Derby: “I’m mostly disappointed about the attitude we had in the first half. There was some arrogance that was based on nothing.
“You see the difference in how Brentford went into the game and how they sprinted to get the ball deep, how they defend and in the transition, I think it’s a big difference to what we showed.
“Some of our players have to realise it’s not only about having the ball and some touches, in this league you have to step up every game and show the best attitude and character on the pitch.”
Cocu will be keen to get a response from his players and a tight tussle is on the cards, so 4/1 for a draw at half-time and full-time appeals from the Derby vs Cardiff odds.
A Look At Cardiff City’s Betting Odds
Cardiff will be content with their form in Wales this term, beating Luton and Huddersfield there before a 1-1 draw with Fulham.
However, they have suffered from travel sickness, losing at Wigan and Reading prior to a goalless stalemate at Blackburn.
Chairman Mehmet Dalman believes it would be wrong to expect too much of a team in transition after being relegated from the Premier League.
He said: “I think if we make the top six and get in the play-offs, it would be a really good achievement for us.
“It’s a team that can get promotion, but it’s a mistake to assume it’s an automatic top two.”
Neil Warnock, who will leave at the end of the season, remains a wily old coach who will get the best out of his players, though.
After conceding six times in the opening two away defeats, he tightened things up for the trip to Ewood Park.
We think this could be another cagey contest and Evens for under 2.5 goals in the game completes our Derby vs Cardiff betting tips.
Additional stats
Last result:
Brentford 3-0 DERBY
CARDIFF 1-1 Fulham – Josh Murphy
Head-to-head: Derby 3-1 Cardiff, Cardiff 0-0 Derby, Derby 3-4 Cardiff, Cardiff 0-2 Derby
Join bwin today and receive up to £10 money back as a FreeBet if your first wager at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater is a loser! Terms and conditions apply.
