Grayson wants end to travel sickness

The Lilywhites last won on the road at Burton on January 2, with the five away matches since seeing three draws and two defeats.

Fulham beat them 3-1 at Craven Cottage on Saturday, a setback Simon Grayson’s men will swiftly want to bounce back from.

“We would love a few away victories, starting at Derby,” said Grayson.

“We want to get back to winning ways after Fulham and will be working hard to do that.

“Since we last won away, we have got decent draws at Aston Villa and Barnsley.

“It was disappointing to lose at Cardiff and then against Fulham on Saturday.

“However, it is competitive in the Championship, whether you play home or away.”

With this evening’s clash being the second of three in a week, Grayson might freshen the side up to face the Rams.

Callum Robinson will be keen to be involved after he was dropped to the bench at Fulham, joining the action in the second half.

Paul Gallagher and Ben Pearson are options to come back into the midfield.

The right-back shortage 
remains, Grayson predicting it will be after the international break when his selection 
issue eases.

“We might be without a right-back for the two games this week and Blackburn, then have two of them back after the international break,” said Grayson.

“You are probably talking Alex Baptiste and Marnick Vermijl for then and it will be nice to have them back.

“Whether we play with three at the back tonight or a back four, we will see.

“If we want to change the team, we have the options.

“Pearson was back on the bench after injury at Fulham and Gally was in and around it.

“This is a tough week with the three games and all the travelling.

“With Gally, we have not had to rush him back after his injury.

“The lads in there have done well – Pearson, Alan Browne and DJ.

“Gally brings a different kind of role to the team, he can play centrally or out wide.”

North End face a Derby side who got back to winning ways on Saturday by beating Barnsley 2-1, that their first victory since January.

Grayson ran the rule over the Rams at Blackburn a week ago with this game in mind.

“Derby were below par last week but had a much-needed win over a good Barnsley team,” said Grayson.

“Anyone connected with Derby will be slightly disappointed that they are not higher up the division, when you consider the money they have to spend and the players who are available.

“When they are able to spend money on good players like David Nugent and Matej Vydra, that just shows what you are competing against in the Championship.

“We have looked at what happened at Fulham, we didn’t help ourselves with the goals conceded and we were probably 10 yards too deep at times, which helped them.”