Derby County play host to Lincoln City on Thursday evening with the opportunity to move within one point of the automatic promotion places in the League One standings.

However, Lincoln make the trip to Pride Park knowing that victory in the East Midlands will cut the deficit to their sixth-placed opponents to just two points.

Match preview

There have been times in the past when it has been suggested that Paul Warne may be just one game from the sack as Derby boss, but that most certainly is not the case right now.

Although the Rams suffered a disappointing FA Cup exit to Crewe Alexandra, they have put together a six-match unbeaten streak in the third tier, collecting 16 goals in the process.

While Warne would have been left frustrated to see Wycombe Wanderers score a last-gasp equaliser at the weekend, he will have remain content to see his team's points tally keep ticking over.

Derby have now gone eight matches without suffering defeat at Pride Park in the league, bouncing back from having lost to Wigan Athletic and Oxford United at the beginning of the campaign.

Just two goals have been conceded during their last six league games, yet both of those strikes have been netted in the 87th minute and beyond.

That is a statistic that will not be lost on a Lincoln side that are also building a head of steam under Michael Skubala.

The appointment of the Leeds United coach was somewhat of a left-field choice, yet he has steadied the ship and kept Lincoln in playoff contention.

A nine-point haul has been collected from five games, the downside being three draws, but Lincoln have also managed to post three clean sheets.

Lincoln have taken seven points from their most recent three matches on their travels, beating Leyton Orient and Cmabridge United before a draw with Wigan Athletic.

Team News

Warne must decide whether to freshen up his Derby XI with Tyrese Fornah potentially being recalled to take the spot of Louie Sibley.

Tom Barkhuizen will also hope to feature after coming off the substitutes' bench to score against Wycombe.

If Conor Washington is passed fit, the Northern Ireland international will most likely be kept in reserve.

Meanwhile, Alistair Smith could be drafted into the Lincoln starting lineup as a replacement for Dylan Duffy after being introduced as a half-time substitute at the weekend.

Jack Vale may also get the nod down the centre of the attack with fellow youngster Jovon Makama still searching for his first League One goal of the season.

Derby County possible starting lineup:
Wildsmith; Ward, Nelson, Cashin, Forsyth; Hourihane; Barkhuizen, Bird, Fornah, Mendez-Laing; Collins

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Jensen; O'Connor, Jackson, Eyoma; Sorensen, Hamilton, Bishop, Burroughs; Mandroiu, Vale, Smith

We say: Derby County 2-1 Lincoln City

With both teams having put together lengthy unbeaten streaks, this should be a competitive fixture. Lincoln will fancy their chances of collecting at least a point, but we feel that the Rams are playing with enough confidence to edge this contest by the odd goal in three.

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