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Match preview
FA Cup fourth round weekend comes to an end at Pride Park with this mouthwatering Monday night clash.
These two clubs have met 76 times to date, although this’ll be their first FA Cup encounter for almost exactly 100 years.
Back then, West Ham prevailed 5-2 at Stamford Bridge in the semi-finals, before losing to Bolton in the final a month later.
Will the Hammers prevail this time too?
Right now, Derby County find themselves in League One, enduring third-tier football for the first time since 1992.
Thus, the Rams priority is promotion and they’re currently fourth, eight points adrift the automatic promotion places, having won five league games on the spin.
So far, Paul Warne’s side have seen off Torquay United in a replay, Newport County and Barnsley, to set up this high-profile fourth round clash.
Now, will the 1946 FA Cup winners march into round five?
West Ham United meantime haven’t captured silverware since last lifting this trophy in 1980, but could that fact be changing this year?
In the previous round, Saïd Benrahma’s rocket was enough to down his former club Brentford in West London.
Meanwhile, the Irons are amongst the favourites to win the Europa Conference League; they’re already through to the last 16.
Despite this, David Moyes’ men are hovering just above the Premier League’s relegation zone, even after claiming a much-needed win over fellow strugglers Everton last weekend.
Jarrod Bowen’s brace at the London Stadium securing the Hammers’ first league win since 24 October.
In this one, will the top-flight side be too strong, or can Derby spring a surprise at Pride Park?
Derby County team news
With the Rams not in action again until Saturday’s meeting with Morecambe, Paul Warne should, more or less, put out his strongest available XI.
His team will feature familiar faces such as Curtis Davies, Conor Hourihane and David McGoldrick who, between them, have 267 Premier League appearances to their name.
In Derby’s most-recent outing, last Tuesday, both McGoldrick and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scored in the final two minutes as they came from behind to beat Port Vale.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Wildsmith; Smith, Forsyth, Davies, Roberts; Bird, Hourihane, Knight, Barkhuizen, Mendez-Laing; McGoldrick.
West Ham United team news
Similarly, despite having a daunting trip to Newcastle in the diary for Saturday, David Moyes is unlikely to rotate heavily here.
He will do in goal though, with Alphonse Areola making his 12th appearances of the season, ten of which have come in cups of Europe.
The Hammers are without Kurt Zouma, Maxwel Cornet, Gianluca Scamacca and Danny Ings due to injury, the latter only made his debut last weekend.
Thus, due to that lack of centre-forward options, Michail Antonio will continue to lead the line.
Tomáš Souček could return to midfield, alongside captain Declan Rice and Lucas Paquetá.
Saïd Benrahma’s winner in round three and Jarrod Bowen’s brace at the weekend should see them keep their places.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Areola; Johnson, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Souček, Rice, Paquetá, Bowen, Benrahma; Antonio.
