For the first time this season, Nigel Pearson has named an unchanged Derby County matchday squad ahead of the visit of Aston Villa for the late Sky Bet Championship kick-off: 5:30pm.

Scott Carson starts his fifth competitive fixture in all competitions in goal for Derby and has a back four that will play together for the third straight league game today.

Cyrus Christie and Craig Forsyth, the match winner in midweek, take up their positions at full back, whilst Richard Keogh and Jason Shackell are paired at the heart of defence.

Will Hughes will play in the midfield holding role against the Villans, whilst Tom Ince, Craig Bryson, Jacob Butterfield and Johnny Russell also play in midfield.

Russell, 26, will be playing his 300th career game, whilst Hughes also makes his 150th career appearance against the Villans.

Chris Martin leads the attack against Aston Villa.

The substitutes bench also remains the same as the one that was named as Preston North End.

Rams Player HD spoke to Chris Powell, Derby’s assistant manager, to discuss Derby’s line-up for the meeting against Roberto Di Matteo’s outfit.

Derby County: Carson, Christie, Keogh (C), Shackell, Forsyth; Hughes, Ince, Bryson, Butterfield, Russell; Martin

Substitutes not used: Grant, Bent, Baird, Johnson, Pearce, Camara, Blackman

Aston Villa: Gollini, Elphick (C), Bacuna, Ayew, Chester, Gestede, Westwood, Gardner, Cissokho, Grealish, McCormack

Substitutes not used: Baker, Richards, Kozak, Green, Hutton, Amavi, Bunn

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