Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby Sport

Image source, PA Media

Seven games without a win and plenty of “shoulda, woulda, coulda” when it comes to must do better.

Derby have the unenviable record of most points dropped from winning positions this season and if you can’t help yourself, then the points taken off you by the EFL will just make it harder.

This new phase of the Rams future will be an interesting one to watch.

Championship survival is surely out of reach, while keeping your dignity in the remaining 29 games is in their hands.

Wayne Rooney is very much focussed on the club’s future and operation rebuild is go.

Derby’s next three games are all against top-six sides with Bournemouth, Fulham and QPR on the radar.

Returning to being hard to beat is a must, but scoring the chances created will be the difference.

Don’t bet against the Rams throwing up a surprise or two over the next week.

Let's get an inside track on how both these sides are shaping-up ahead of this fixture...

It was on 14 November 2020 that Derby County parted company with manager Phillip Cocu, with the team bottom of the table.

Twelve months and one week on and nothing has changed in terms of their league position.

Cocu's successor Wayne Rooney cannot, though, be blamed for the precarious situation the Rams find themselves in after the club were docked 21 points for going into administration and breaching accounting rules.

He still insists avoiding relegation is possible - but if a miracle is to happen, a positive result against Bournemouth is surely a must.

Image source, Rex Features

Fulham's victory over Barnsley on Saturday saw them go above Bournemouth into top spot.

But a win for Scott Parker's side this afternoon will see them regain that place and go two points clear of the Cottagers and a very important 11 ahead of third-placed West Brom, who lost at Huddersfield.

Image source, BBC Sport

Meanwhile at the other end....

Image source, BBC Sport

Further points deductions for Derby in the past week have sadly put them on minus three points, 14 adrift of second-from-bottom Barnsley and 18 away from safety after Hull beat Birmingham City to lift themselves out of the relegation zone.

Image source, Getty Images

Derby's Liam Thompson is handed his Championship debut after impressing for the under-23s this season while 16-year-old Omari Kellyman is named on the bench.

Bournemouth welcome back midfielder Lewis Cook in place of Gavin Kilkenny for a first start since a long-term injury with Chris Mepham coming in for Lloyd Kelly and Gary Cahill skippering the side.

Derby XI: Roos, Thompson, Buchanan, Jagielka, Davies, Bird, Shinnie, Ebosele, Knight, Lawrence (capt), Baldock.

Subs: Forsyth, Jozwiak, Morrison, Kazim-Richards, Stearman, Allsop, Kellyman.

Bournemouth XI: Travers; Stacey, Davis, Mepham, Cahill (capt), L Cook, Lerma, Billing, Christie, Anthony, Solanke.

Subs: Nyland, S Cook, Marcondes, Kilkenny, Moraih-Welsh, Lowe, Rogers.

Image source, BBC/Stan Badz/PGA Tour

The dire financial situation facing Derby County and related companies was laid bare on Saturday when details of their debts were made public.

The Rams owe £29.3m to HMRC and that's just for starters.

Administrators Quantuma remain hopeful of finding a buyer and whoever else is interested in taking over the club, US businessman Chris Kirchner has made it clear that he remains 'in the race'.

He posted on Twitter on Thursday that the EFL had confirmed they were satisfied with the proof of funds he has provided, adding: "This is a great milestone in the process."

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning and welcome along to a bonus Sunday edition of Championship action.

We're in the East Midlands today for a meeting between one side who are flying in their quest to return to the Premeir League against another who must be thinking a return to English football's top table will be out of reach for some time.

Derby County have had a turbulent time off the pitch and after further points deductions find themselves well and truly rooted to the foot of table.

Bournemouth meanwhile are seemingly destined to head full pelt back to the Premier League after a two-year absence, but Scott Parker's side know they need a win this lunchtime to reclaim top perch.

It all gets going in the next 15 minutes.