Southampton v Derby [1rst leg]

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Billy Davies is involved in the Championship play-offs for the third time in as many seasons and he takes his Derby side to Southampton, live on Sky Sports 1, hoping the old adage 'third time lucky' rings true.

For much of the campaign Derby were nip and tuck with Sunderland and Birmingham in jostling for an automatic promotion spot but three into two does not go, and it was Davies and his players that missed out.

In finishing third Derby will start the tie as marginal favourites but given it is so often the case that the team that finishes sixth goes up, often on the back of an end of season spurt, it would be no surprise were the mood at St Mary's exuberant.

Southampton only secured a play-off berth on the last day of the season but in demolishing Southend 4-1, George Burley's side demonstrated they are hungry for goals and in a confident vein of form.

Indeed, the major selection quandary for George Burley against his former club will be which pair to prime from a quartet of in-form and freescoring strikers.

Marek Saganowski has pleaded with his manager to be given a recall after recovering from a groin complaint that forced him out of the last three games of the season, and given that he had hit ten goals in ten games prior to injury, the Pole certainly has a case to put forward.

Kenwyne Jones is another hit-man who cannot stop scoring having netted seven times in his last ten games, while Leon Best also grabbed a brace against Southend.

Grzegorz Rasiak will feel he deserves to figure in the club's most important game of the season, having finished the campaign with 20 goals to his name.

At the other end of the field, though, Burley is not afforded such luxuries as his influential captain Claus Lundekvam has been ruled out until next season after being injured against Southend.

Derby's cause was bolstered on the final day by the appearance of Stephen Pearson, who came through 90 minutes against Leeds unscathed, following a ten-week lay-off with a foot injury.

Skipper Matt Oakley missed the 2-0 win over Leeds but is expected to be ready to start, but Morten Bisgaard (calf) and Paul Peschisolido (heel) are both struggling to be ready.

Darren Currie is available having extended his loan spell from Ipswich and the midfielder schemer will be hopeful of starting on the South Coast following his goal against Leeds.

Both managers are well acquainted with the play-offs so it could be a tactical minefield which ensues on Saturday, but what cannot be doubted, is that two talented sides will take to the field desperate to fulfil their goal of winning promotion.

Source: Skysports

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Final Score:

Southampton 1-2 Derby

S: Andrew Surman (7') D: Steve Howard (36', 58' pen)

It will be very tough for Saints now.