'Too much' - Derby County v Bristol Rovers score prediction by EFL pundit

Former English Football League striker and Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has predicted the outcome of Derby County v Bristol Rovers. The Gas travel to Pride Park against one of the promotion favourites, and have reason to be in good spirits.

Andy Mangan is yet to taste defeat in the five games he's overseen since taking interim charge from his close friend Joey Barton. His side remain in the EFL Trophy and the FA Cup, whilst they're in the top-half of the table. Both sides were in action last week with Derby losing 3-1 to League Two outfit Crewe Alexandra, which put to bed a chance of the two sides meeting again in the FA Cup in early December. Rovers meanwhile booked their place in the Round of 32 of the EFL Trophy after narrowly beating Newport County thanks to an Anthony Evans effort.

A total of four points and three places separate seventh-placed Derby County and 10th-placed Bristol Rovers. A win this weekend for the Rams could move them intio the play-offs having trailed Barnsley on the virtue of goals scored. A win for Rovers could see them go as high as eighth.

"Derby are under pressure and they expected to do better," said Goodman to OLBG.

"They need to, and they probably will. They've won their last two home games, against Northampton and Barnsley. I'd expect it to be a tough game, but I think Derby will have a bit too much for Bristol Rovers."

Goodman, who played for West Brom, Sunderland and Wolves in his career however is predicting a first defeat of Mangan's tenure.

"I'm going for a Derby win, 2-1. It will be a tight game."

Rovers haven't beaten Derby since an FA Cup victory back in January 2002 and since then they've lost twice and drawn in their most recent meeting which was in April 2023.