The Blades could complete the double over the Rams should they gain all three points on Saturday; a Richard Cresswell goal was enough to walk away from Pride Park with maximum points last September – back then it was their first victory on the road this season.
Since then they have won a further two more at Hull City and Millwall (both 1-0) and looked to be making it four when two quick fire goals from Ched Evans (6 minutes) and Richard Cresswell (7) sprung Micky Adams men into a two-nil lead at Scunthorpe United on Tuesday night.
The Iron were let back into the game when Neill Collins earthed Joe Garner in the box; the midfielder stepped up to slam the ball home past Simonsen. Garner then made it two before the break, slotting home at the far post!
After the break the home side turned up the heat and despite the Blades creating more chances than their opposition it was Scunny who won the game; Lee Miller heading home to make it 3-2. There was a final twist in the tale as Shane Lowry was sent off late on.
The on-loan Aston Villa defender will now sit out a one match suspension and will be made available for selection again in time for the Blades visit to Portsmouth next Saturday.
Blades boss Micky is without a number of players; Joe Mattock (knee), Ched Evans (ill), Ryan France (back), Richard Wright (thigh), Darius Henderson (hamstring) and Andy Taylor (leg) are all missing through injury.
Expected Eleven: Simonsen, Parrino, Ertl, Collins, Lowton, Yeates, Doyle, Williamson, Riise, Bogdanovic, Evans.
County come into this fixture on back of a 1-0 home defeat to Hull City last Tuesday night; Anthony Gerrard (71) notching the decisive goal – if Derby aren’t careful they run the risk of slipping down the league table and potentially joining those bunch of clubs battling for survival at the bottom.
The Pride Park club currently lay 19th in the table – just five points better off than Scunthorpe United who hold that last remaining relegation spot.
They are expected to be without Russell Anderson (calf) and Jake Buxton (groin) through injury whilst defender Shaun Barker (knee) is set to be sidelined for the remainder of the season following surgery.
However Stephen Pearson (bruised shin) and James Bailey (groin) could both return to the squad after nursing only minor injuries.
Forward Jamie Ward may not be able to feature in this game tomorrow; he is currently on loan from the Bramall Lane club and under the terms of his loan may be ineligible to play.
Rams boss Nigel Clough may opt to introduce new signing Theo Robinson into the side for his full team debut at Bramall Lane; he has already played at the Lane this season having featured for his parent club Millwall in a 1-1 draw here just a few weeks ago.
Expected Eleven: Bywater, Ayala, Roberts, Addison, Barker, Brayford, Cywka, Savage, B. Davies, S. Davies, Bueno.