Chorley vs Derby County: Match Preview, Team News & Stats
National League North side Chorley host Championship outfit Derby County in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, with the visitors expected to field a youth side due to a coronavirus outbreak at the club.
The Magpies, who have never faced the Rams in a competitive match, are unbeaten in their last three home games, while Derby lost their 11th league match of the season last Friday away at Sheffield Wednesday.
Match preview
In what has been a challenging 2020-21 campaign, Derby County were dealt another blow this week when it was announced that head coach Wayne Rooney, his coaching staff and the entire first-team squad will miss the FA Cup tie at Chorley following a coronavirus outbreak, which has also resulted in the club closing their training ground.
The Rams are now set to field a side of Under-18 and Under-23 players, with the FA Cup rules stating that clubs are expected to fulfil their fixtures if they have at least 14 eligible players available, including those from their youth system.
Derby’s Professional Development Phase Coaches Pat Lyons and Gary Bowyer are the men expected to take charge of a side that could be even further depleted, with several members of the Under-23’s squad having trained with the first team in the last week and so are also unavailable.
The Rams would have expected to head into their clash with Chorley as the strong favourites but following the COVID-19 outbreak, now travel to Victory Park as the underdogs, as they were against the top-flight sides they have faced in recent years.
Chorley reached the third round of the competition for the first time in their history after a surprise 2-1 away victory against League One side Peterborough United in November.
The Magpies also beat Gateshead, York City and Wigan Athletic prior to their triumph at London Road and have been rewarded with a draw against Championship opposition.
Derby will be the highest ranked side in the English football pyramid that Chorley have faced since they lost 6-0 against Notts County in the FA Cup first round in 1900.
Should Chorley secure another shock result on Saturday and reach the fourth round, they will have won as many games in the FA Cup proper this season as they have in their history prior to this campaign.
Chorley FA Cup form: WLWWWW
Chorley form (all competitions): WDLWWL
Derby County FA Cup form: WLWDWL
Derby County form (all competitions): DDWLWL
Chorley possible starting lineup:
Urwin; Birch, Leather, Smith, Halls, Baines; Shenton, Calveley, Newby; Cardwell, Hall
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Idem; McDonald, J. Brown, Solomon, A. Brown; Ibrahim, Dixon, Watson; Whittaker, Hector-Ingram, Stretton