U’s visit to kick off campaign in League One for Rams

DERBY County will open their League One season with a home clash against Oxford United.

Wayne Rooney’s side will host the Us on July 30, with the campaign starting early this year because of the World Cup, which takes place in Qatar in November. Derby will then travel to Charlton Athletic for their first away trip before they finish off the month of August with games against Barnsley, Shrewsbury Town, Fleetwood Town and Peterborough United.

At Christmas, the Rams will travel to face Bolton Wanderers on Boxing Day and will then host Cambridge United three days later.

They are also at home on New Year’s Day when Accrington Stanley are the visitors to Pride Park.

Derby fans will be relieved to know that there is only one demanding midweek trip in terms of travelling but that does not come until April when they will have to make a Tuesday night visit to Exeter City.

The two anticipated games against Sheffield Wednesday, who reached the play-offs last season only to be knocked out by eventual winners Sunderland, take place at Pride Park Stadium on December 3, with a trip to Hillsborough on the final day of the season.

In yesterday’s Carabao Cup first round draw, the Rams were drawn away against Mansfield Town in the Northern section.

The Stags, last season’s League Two play-off finalists, are managed by former Rams boss Nigel Clough.

Lee Morris, Malcolm Christie and Ian Evatt grabbed the goals for the Rams the last time they faced the Stags in a competitive fixture, winning a League Cup tie 3-1 at Mansfield in 2002.

Carabao Cup first round ties are scheduled for the week commencing August 8.

Clough’s Stags are also in the Rams’ Papa Johns Trophy group, which was completed yesterday when Manchester City Under-21s were drawn alongside them in Group F.

League Two sides Grimsby Town are also in the roup, with the tournament set to start the week commencing August 29.

Pride Park Stadium will be venue for the Rams’ opening game of the tournament when newly-promoted Grimsby make the trip before the second match day will see the Premier League champions’ youngsters visit the East Midlands in the week commencing September 19.

The Rams will travel to Mansfield in the week commencing October 17.

The fixture against City will see

former Rams striker Liam Delap visit Pride Park for the first time since his departure in 2019.

The striker made his first team debut for Pep Guardiola’s side a year later, scoring in a Carabao Cup victory over Bournemouth in September 2020.

HOME OPENER FOR ROONEY’S MEN AND CARABAO CUP AWAY TEST AGAINSTSTAGS

Derby County manager Wayne Rooney during last season’s Championship campaign which ended with the Rams relegated after a 21-point penalty. Right: Former Rams striker Liam Delap, now with Manchester City, could be in the Blues Under-21 squad for a Papa Johns Trophy fixture.