One game is scheduled to take place in the English Championship this Thursday evening and it's a local derby between Derby County and Leicester City.

Both these sides are just below halfway in the league table and with a considerable amount of ground to make up if they are to make a late run at catching a play off place. Leicester were in FA Cup action last weekend and they pulled off a terrific win at Premier League Norwich (2-1) to set up a sixth round tie at either Birmingham or Chelsea. More on Leicester later but first a look at how Derby have been going recently.

Derby's form has been streaky all season, when things are going well they are very capable but right now they are suffering in terms of results having taken just two points from the last 15 available in addition to slipping out of the FA Cup at home to Stoke in Round 4. They were hammered 4-0 at Southampton at the weekend and beaten at home by Reading 1-0 a few days earlier. Their last point came in a 0-0 draw at Millwall so it's now three games since they hit the target. Prior to the Reading defeat, Derby had reeled off four successive home wins including matches against the likes of West Ham and Leeds. However, they have been beaten a total of five times in the league at Pride Park and in addition to Reading, other promotion chasing sides such as Cardiff, Hull and Brighton have left here with three points.

Whether Leicester's exploits in the FA Cup will help or hinder the remainder of their Championship season remains to be seen but up to now, inconsistency has plagued their campaign. Strip out the cup matches and Leicester's results show they have not won back to back games in the Championship all season. They have won away at Southampton and at home to Cardiff recently but their last outing in the league saw them go down 3-2 at lowly Watford.

Derby have four clean sheets in 15 home games and failed to score in the same number in front of their own supporters. Likewise, Leicester have four clean sheets from 15 road trips and have failed to score in four of those engagements away from home.

Leicester won the earlier meeting this season 4-0 and they also beat Derby 2-0 home and away in 2010/11. The 4-0 scoreline from the most recent head to head ended a sequence of six previous low scoring (under 2.5 goals) meetings between these sides.

The Betting - Match Result

Derby 23/10 BetXchange

Draw 5/2 BetXchange

Leicester 27/20 Sportingbet

Selected Others

Under 2.5 goals 7/10 BetXchange, Voltbet, Sportingbet

Over 2.5 goals 11/10 BetXchange, Voltbet

Both teams to score (no) 17/20 BetXchange

Both teams to score (yes) 9/10 BetXchange

Odds are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change. Some bookmakers may not have priced up on all markets at the time of writing.

The Verdict

Although the head to head stats suggest otherwise I am looking for a high scoring game and four of Leicester's last five matches have seen a total of at least three goals scored. It's a local derby game but I see no reason why either side would drop a dead bat on this and Leicester in particular should not rule out a late play off bid, unlikely as it may seem.

Over 2.5 goals gets the nod.

Bet: Over 2.5 goals 11/10 BetXchange, Voltbet

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