Derby County must try and win away from Pride Park for the first time four months without the influence and experience of Craig Bryson and Ashley Cole.
Frank Lampard confirmed on Thursday that midfielder Bryson and left-back Cole have been ruled out of the trip to Ashton Gate as the 'We can beat anyone' - Derby County star warns Bristol City that confidence is high in Rams camp take on eighth-placed Bristol City in a must-not lose game for the Robins.
'We can beat anyone' - Derby County star warns Bristol City that confidence is high in Rams camp
Bryson, 32, suffered an ankle injury during the 2-0 Easter Monday win over Queens Park Rangers and may have played his last game for the club while Cole, 38, has a groin problem.
Derby have plenty of talent throughout their squad to cover the absences but with his side having not won away from home in the Championship in 2019, Lampad could certainly do with their experience and leadership in the dressing room.
They may have risen to sixth in the table with a one-point advantage over the Robins but it is built on their form at Pride Park as in 2019, Derby's away record reads: P8 W0 D4 L4 F6 A15, and their last victory on the road was on December 29.
"We know we haven’t been as good as we want to be away from home in the second half of the season," Lampard said.
"I’ve spoken about it before - we need that fight and desire. It’s a huge game for both clubs - we can’t understate that.
"We have to go again. Three games in the Championship is a lot of football.
"To say we’re in the driving seat is too early, because there’s a lot of football to be played.
"I think you can tie yourself in knots thinking about permutations.
"We are going there wanting to win the game."
Just a point separates Derby, Middlesbrough and Bristol City while Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea in ninth and 10th are not completely out of the race, should results go their way this weekend.
"Us three (Derby, Boro, Brisol City) are in that race and it’s very close," Lampard added.
"There will be clubs below us that feel they can put a run together. Swansea are not far away and we still have to play them."
