John Roder
Match of the Day commentator

"Stoke's excellent victory over Arsenal last weekend halted a run of three league defeats and they arrive at Selhurst Park looking for their third away win of the campaign.

"Manager Mark Hughes said the first-half performance against the Gunners, when Stoke took a 3-0 lead, was the best since he took charge, and singled out Bojan for particular praise.

"This is only the third Premier League match between these two clubs, and Palace have had a different manager in each of them. I was commentating at the last meeting at Selhurst Park, back in January, when the Stoke fans paid a warm and sincere tribute to Tony Pulis as the then-Palace boss faced his old club for the first time.

"A worrying statistic is that Palace's magnificent performance against Liverpool three weeks ago is their only triumph in nine Premier League matches."

Guy Mowbray
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Not even confirmation that Sergio Aguero will be out of action until mid-January could dampen the Manchester City mood, with the opening of their highly-acclaimed £200m training complex followed by a famous Champions League win in Rome on Wednesday.

"It was a sixth successive victory made even more impressive by being achieved without the superstar spine of the team - no Aguero, no Yaya Toure, no Vincent Kompany.

"Whilst the sky blue City have taken 25 points from the last possible 30, Leicester have gathered only two.

"If they don't at least double that in the next two games then they'll be bottom at Christmas - a position from which only West Brom and Sunderland have escaped the drop in 22 years of the Premier League."

Ready to read some previews for our 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League?

Steve Harper
Hull City goalkeeper at Riverside Stadium for 5 live Sport

"Middlesbrough deserve to be in front, based just on their attacking threat. Derby haven't offered much but Steve McClaren won't be too disappointed - they just need to improve what they're doing in the final third."

Boro are top of the league. For now at least.

Finally a shot on target for Derby, but Dimitrios Konstantopoulos gets down to well to deny Jeff Hendrick from 20 yards out.

The clock is ticking down to half-time now. The pattern is very much set in stone at the moment - Derby with lots of the ball, but not threatening in the final third. As for Boro, they appear to have numerous options when they do intercept and pour forward.

Steve Harper
Hull City goalkeeper at Riverside Stadium for 5 live Sport

"Middlesbrough have been very well briefed on how Derby play. Every ball they try to play through Boro and any pass combination they try to put together Middlesbrough are intercepting. Aitor Karanka must really have done his homework."

Football Focus
BBC Sport

The results from the Football Focus vote are in and 59% of you think West Ham will finish in the top ten in the Premier League, 28% top six, 7% top four and 6% bottom ten.

The full results can be found here., external Thanks for voting.

Derby continue to be kept at arm's length. First Simon Dawkins is forced across the edge of the box, and he passes to Johnny Russell who drags his shot wide. No way through.

Inrictus:, external We're on the telly and we're actually winning. Show the world the new Boro!

Billy Evans:, external Good so far for Middlesbrough. I really hope Boro win to knock Derby of the top... because I'm a big Norwich city fan!

Steve Harper noted at 12:36 that today's goalkeepers will have to wear caps to shield them from the bright winter sunshine.

The low stands at Portsmouth's Fratton Park have proved a problem for keepers for years, including one-time Pompey stopper David James. But his cap's nothing in comparison to former Wolves and England glovesman Bert Williams!

Image source, Getty Images/Empics

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown
Football Focus

"The new academy development at Manchester City is incredibly impressive, but what impressed me most about visiting was the people. There is special warmth at City now. Everyone treats you with a genuine warmth. Vincent Kompany has already been told he will be there for a lifetime, and I really like how that philosophy filters down within the club."

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville
Football Focus

"When you are a club like Man City and they have got the financial clout they have you have still got to do things right. They are doing that now, putting things back into the city. They need to start trusting the young players though and bringing them through the ranks and into the first team.

"I think City can handle playing without Aguero as they have the talent to do that."

Steve Harper
Hull City goalkeeper at Riverside Stadium for 5 live Sport

"Incredible save from Grant. The keeper parried the first shot to 20 yards out but he was up quickly and got a strong glove to the rebound. That's one of the best saves I've seen all season!"

Lee Grant keeps Derby in the game with a fine double-save. After his team-mate Omar Mascarell gives the ball away, he beats Patrick Bamford's powerful shot away and recovers to deny Jelle Vossen with an even better save at the follow-up.

Better from Derby as good work from Johnny Russell wins a corner. The delivery is not as good, though, as it is played to the edge of the area and Boro end up pressing the Rams back into their own half.

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 live senior football reporter

"Nigel Pearson makes no mention of his recent fine in his programme notes. It's very easy to judge when we all can't appreciate the intense pressure a manager is under. I was speaking to a manager who was recently subjected to horrific abuse, horrific, by someone who had got hold of his mobile phone number. We still don't know what the fan said to Nigel Pearson, though of course that almost doesn't matter. Today, however, he will want the focus to be on his team, not him."

Steve Harper
Hull City goalkeeper at Riverside Stadium for 5 live Sport

"It's very sunny out there, with the keepers needing to shade their eyes. I am a fan of wearing caps. I've only worn one once, playing away at Portsmouth, and I kept a clean sheet that day. So I retired it - I have a 100% clean sheet record when wearing a cap!"

Middlesbrough look incredibly organised the moment Derby pass the halfway line. The Rams are enjoying lots of the ball, but too many passes are going sideways.