A look ahead to the first fixture of 2024 as Posh head to Pride Park to face in-form Derby County on New Years Day (3pm).
Peterborough United make the trip to Pride Park to face in-form Derby County on New Years Day for the first fixture of the new calendar year and it was one of the trickiest away games in the league for Darren Ferguson’s men with the Rams enjoying a fine run of results.
Posh go into the game on the back of back-to-back 2-2 draws against Reading and Barnsley, while Paul Warne’s Derby side were winners at Oxford United in the final game of 2023, coming from behind to secure a notable 3-2 victory.
TEAM NEWS
Posh goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic is a big doubt after he was forced off the pitch against Barnsley in the first half following the challenge that led to the opening goal. Fynn Talley is standing by to make his league debut should Bilokapic not make it.
Will Blackmore (hip) and Malik Mothersille (heel) are ruled out of action, but Hector Kyprianou, Kwame Poku and Ricky-Jade Jones are expected to come back into the starting line-up after being rested against the Tykes.
Midfielder Korey Smith (knee) and striker Conor Washington (ankle) remain out of action as they continue to recover from the injuries they sustained in November. Smith is due to return to training next week but Washington will remain out of action for the longer term. Striker Martyn Waghorn (calf) will miss out once again but is set to return to training next week. Long-term absentees Jake Rooney (knee) and Elliot Embleton (quad) remain ruled out of action.
ONE TO WATCH
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (pictured below) has been a consistent performer for the Rams and Posh fans will know all about his qualities as he has had two spells at Posh. Versatile forward Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was the third player to join Derby County in the summer of 2022 following the successful takeover of the club by Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd, signing a two-year contract.
He came through the youth ranks at Wolverhampton Wanderers and made his professional debut in the League Cup at the age of 17, producing a Man of the Match showing in a win over Swindon Town, during the 2009/10 season.
A quick, direct winger, Mendez-Laing is also now an international with Guatemala and is a firm fans favourite at Pride Park.
FROM THE MANAGER
“I am looking forward to the game, I think it will be quite an expansive game, I am pretty confident it won’t finish 0-0. They are the most in-form team in the league, they have the best stadium in the league and I am sure it will be full. We are looking forward to the challenge that awaits us. We have had a good December and we want to start the new year with a positive performance,” Darren Ferguson said.
TICKET NEWS
Tickets are now off sale for the game with around 1,700 Posh fans making the journey to Pride Park. There are no tickets available on the day.
POSH+
The game is available to listen to on Posh+ with audio passes available for domestic and overseas subscribers with Nilesh Patel and Chris Dowsett on the mic. We are unable to sell video match passes as the game is live on Sky Sports.
HEAD TO HEAD
Posh were beaten 4-2 by Derby County at the Weston Homes Stadium in the previous meeting between the two sides this season with Martyn Waghorn bagging a hat-trick.
Last season, Posh beat Derby County 2-0 in PE2 thanks to goals from Ephron Mason-Clark and Nathanel Ogbeta (pictured together below).
A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS
There have been a few connections down the years with Joe Ward (pictured below) making the move to Pride Park in the summer after a long stint as a Posh player. Conor Washington and Callum Elder are also on the books at Pride Park.
Among the others to have represented both include; George Thorne, Malcolm Christie, Peter Kennedy, Ian Feuer, Miles Addison, Jack Marriott, Izale McLeod, Scott Loach, Jake Livermore, Eric Steele, Craig Ramage, Trevor Whymark and Lewin Nyatanga.
KIT COLOURS
We will be in our third kit for this fixture.
MATCH OFFICIAL
Ross Joyce is the match referee.