Derby County vs Carlisle United tips and predictions: Paul Warne’s Rams to cruise to League One promotion

Derby County needed just one point on the final day of last season to secure their place in the League One play-offs, but a 1-0 defeat allowed Peterborough to leapfrog them.

Fast forward 12 months and Paul Warne’s Rams need one point to secure automatic promotion to the Championship, but Bolton are hot on their tails.

Darren Ferguson’s Posh side again had the chance to spoil the party but two defeats from four has ended their hopes, leaving County and Wanderers to duke it out on the final day.

Interestingly, Bolton will visit Peterborough. The hosts will have one eye on the play-offs so Ian Evatt’s side will fancy their chances.

A win, a three-goal swing and a favourable result at Pride Park isn’t too much to ask for, right? Well, unfortunately for Bolton, Derby host already relegated Carlisle.

No side in the football league has produced a more dire set of results in 2023. The Cumbrians have lost 16 of 20 matches since New Year’s Day.

On the other hand, they’ve won two of three on their travels, including a shock 3-1 win against promotion-chasing Peterborough, so it’s not a foregone conclusion.

Yet the reality is it’s in Derby’s hands and if they’re fully focused, they can have this game all their way. The Rams are unbeaten in nine of 10 and have produced six wins to nil.

Their commanding league position should allow them to play with some freedom and put the game to bed early, leaving them to run up the score in the second half.

 

Suggested bets

Derby -1.75 Asian handicap

First-half goals: over 1.5

Derby to win to nil