The last match of the first round is clash between team that was relegated from the strongest English league last year and one that needed just a bit to earn promotion to the Premier League. Huddersfield couldn’t follow killing pace of the strongest league in the world and it ended up at the last place, while Derby played in the promotion play-off but was defeated. Three seasons ago Huddersfield defeated Derby at home by 1-0.
Huddersfield spent two seasons in the Premier League but they played the previous one very poorly and had finished in the last place. They won three matches and couldn’t expect anything better than relegation. Huddersfield spent the entire second part of season in the last place in the table. They changed the manager in January and Jan Siewert will lead the team into the new season where they want to earn promotion to English first divison. The most famous name they brought was midfielder Mbenz from Montpellier, and there are several other newcomers who will get chance right away.
Probable lineups Huddersfield: Grabara – Hadergjonaj, Schindler, Kongolo, Bockhorn – Hogg, Mooy, Bacuna – Mbenza, Grant, Diakhaby
Derby was very close to get promotion to the Premier League last season, but they couldn’t make the last step. They finished the regular season in the sixth place and had qualified for the play-off. They won Leeds two times and reached the final where they faced Aston Villa. They lost that match at Wembley and will continue to compete in the Championship, where will try again to earn promotion to the English first divisoin but with a new coach. Frank Lampard moved to Chelsea and now there is Phillip Coca, who has problems at the beginning of season with injuries of his players. Out of action are Thorne, Davies, Carson, Wisdom, Marriott and Holmes, while out of newcomers Dowell and Shinnie should be starters.
Probable lineups Derby County: Roos – Bogle, Keogh, Evans, Malone – Dowell, Huddlestone, Shinnie – Jozefzoon, Waghorn, Lawrence
It is hard to tell in what shape are these two teams at the beginning of season but both harbour great ambitions. It is more realistic that Huddersfield fight to return in the Premier League as Derby is a bit weaker. We expect to see goals on both sides of the pitch now.