Image source, Rex Features

This evening is the third of three really tough games for Wayne Rooney's Derby County - and they have acquitted themselves well so far.

Only the top three have conceded fewer goals than Derby this season - but only Barnsley have scored fewer than them.

On Wednesday they came away from leaders Fulham with a 0-0 draw, just the second side in the league this season to stop Aleksandar Mitrovic and his mates from scoring a goal.

Eight days ago they came from a goal down to beat second-placed Bournemouth 3-2 at Pride Park, thanks to two goals from Tom Lawrence.

Without the points deduction the Rams would be 19th in the Championship and looking towards mid-table, rather than worrying about who will leave in January when they get a chance to bring some much-needed cash to the club via player sales.

Image source, Getty Images

Not many sides can say they have had as a good a November as QPR.

Ten points from a possible 12 has seen Mark Warburton's side move into the play-off places - largely off the back of a defence that has conceded just one goal in that time.

The fact that they face a Derby side that has scored the second-fewest number of goals all season will give R's fans further reason to be confident.

But nine of Derby's 16 Championship goals have come in their past seven games, so they are on the up.

Image source, Rex Features

Ravel Morrison is the one change to Derby County's line-up - the much-travelled forward replaces Festy Ebosele in attack, alongside skipper Tom Lawrence and Jason Knight.

Teenager Liam Thompson starts for the third straight game in midfield while experienced centre-backs Curtis Davies and Phil Jagielka operate in the heart of defence.

Unsurprisingly QPR pick an unchanged side for the third successive game as they look for a third win in a row.

Charlie Austin continues to lead the line with Chris Willock and Elias Chair in support, while Andre Dozzell and Stefan Johansen play in central midfield.

Derby: Roos, Byrne, Jagielka, Davies, Forsyth, Bird, Thompson, Shinnie, Morrison, Lawrence, Knight.

Subs: Jozwiak, Kazim-Richards, Stearman, Sibley, Allsop, Watson, Ebosele.

QPR: Dieng, Dickie, Dunne, Barbet, Adomah, Dozzell, Johansen, Wallace, Chair, Austin, Willock.

Subs: Amos, Ball, Archer, Thomas, Field, Gray, Odubajo.

The man linked with a takeover of financially-troubled Derby is in attendance tonight.

US businessman Chris Kirchner is keen on buying the club, which is currently in administration after having a total of 21 points deducted for financial issues.

The club has combined debts of about £60m and are 19 points from safety after losing 12 points from going into administration and a further nine for breaches of accounting rules.

The 34-year-old from Texas is the co-founder of a global logistics company and confirmed his interest in taking over Derby in an open letter to supporters last month.

The Rams suffered a trading loss of £1.2m during their first eight weeks in administration, according to figures released last week.

Image source, Rex Features

It might be cold outside, but here at BBC Sport we hope we can warm you up with some red-hot Championship football over the next few hours!

Stay with us as rock-bottom Derby County host one of the Championship's form sides in Queens Park Rangers.

We will have all the action as it happens, and you can get involved too by using #bbcefl on Twitter.