Preston North End facing a familiar foe in Pride Park Carabao Cup meeting

Being paired with a team from the same division in a cup competition is never the best thing, especially when they have met as often as the Rams and PNE have done of late.

This is the sixth season on the spin they have been in the Championship together, so a cup tie just adds to the familiarity.

Not that any sense of importance should be taken away from the Pride Park clash which has a 6.30pm kick-off tonight.

After both sides were beaten in their opening league games, they will be looking to get back on the winning track straight away. Derby lost 2-0 at home to Reading on Saturday, that happening at the same time PNE lost to Swansea.

Both goals were conceded by the Rams in a five-minute spell before half-time, Phillip Cocu not happy with what his side produced in the first half. While the second half was better, Cocu was to lament a lack of threat in the final third – does that sound familiar?

Cocu could give Wayne Rooney some game time against PNE, the former England skipper having been restricted to a 
half-hour run as a substitute against Reading due to an injury suffered during pre-season.