After back-to-back home victories over Bristol City and bottom side Cardiff City, Derby County's form on the road once again proved to be a stumbling block as the East Midlands outfit lost by a single goal at the home of promotion favourites Sheffield United on Saturday.

Kayden Jackson and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing went close for the Rams in the first period at Bramall Lane, but the visitors were unable to find the finishing touch as Blades midfielder Gustavo Hamer scored from a free-kick in the second half.

With three wins and three defeats from their first six games back in the Championship, Derby sit 10th in the second tier with nine points, five clear of Sheffield Wednesday, who currently occupy the highest of the relegation places.

Following their sensational season in League One in 2023-24, the Rams have been immaculate in the East Midlands so far this season, winning four straight Championship and EFL Cup games at Pride Park, including second-tier victories over Middlesbrough, Bristol City and Cardiff.

Despite reaching his 400th game in charge at Bramall Lane last weekend, Paul Warne will not be in a celebratory mood for too long as he attempts to win over a section of the Derby faithful who feel the 51-year-old is not the man to take the club to the next level on the pitch.

After a run of three away games that included an EFL Cup exit at Crystal Palace and a narrow defeat at Swansea City in the Championship, Norwich City returned to their East Anglian home last Saturday and the top-six chasers produced an exceptional display against Watford.

Manchester City loanee Callum Doyle opened the scoring for the Canaries with his first goal for the club before Watford's Ryan Andrews levelled the scores, but further strikes from Borja Sainz, Marcelino Nunez and Ben Chrisene put the game beyond Tom Cleverley's men.

Norwich, who have struggled with inconsistency at the start of the season, have yet to win under new Danish boss Johannes Hoff Thorup, who replaced the unpopular David Wagner following the club's play-off defeat to Leeds United in May.

Having finished sixth in the Championship last season, the Canaries will be expecting at least the same this time around, with Saturday's visitors to Pride Park currently sitting in 11th place after taking eight points from their opening six league games.

Surprisingly, given the relative fortunes of the two sides in recent times, Norwich have won just one of their last six meetings with Derby in the Championship, although the Canaries were victorious on their last visit to Pride Park in April 2021, with Kieran Dowell netting the only goal of the East Midlands clash.

Derby are sweating over the fitness of left-back Callum Elder, who is a doubt for Saturday's game after being forced off in the closing stages of last weekend's win over Sheffield United with a groin problem.

The Rams will be without the services of David Ozoh, with the Crystal Palace loanee expected to return from a hamstring strain after the October international break.

Right-back Kane Wilson is also in the Derby medical room with a hamstring problem, while youngster Jake Rooney is set to miss the majority of the campaign with a cruciate ligament injury.

Norwich will be without the services of second-choice Ashley Barnes due to a leg injury, meaning Joshua Sargent will continue to carry the attacking burden at the heart of the visitors' attack.

Christian Fassnacht is out until the end of October with an Achilles problem, while centre-back Jacob Sorensen is on the sidelines with a foot problem.

Derby County possible starting lineup:

Zetterstrom; Nyambe, Nelson, Cashin, Ward; Goudmijn, Osborn, Adams; Jackson, Mendez-Laing, Yates

Norwich City possible starting lineup:

Gunn; Fisher, Duffy, Doyle, Cordoba; Nunez, McLean; Schwartau, Crnac, Sainz; Sargent

Prediction:Derby County 1-0 Norwich City

Derby County VS Norwich City stream and TV listing

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