The penultimate month of the 2022/23 Sky Bet League One season is upon us and Derby County have plenty to play for.
With seven fixtures, including three long away trips, April will prove decisive in where Derby County finish their League One campaign as they look to finish in the division's top six.
Here, dcfc.co.uk takes a look at what’s to come for the First-Team, Under-21s, Under-18s and Derby County Women.
01/04 – Derby County Vs Ipswich Town (3pm kick-off)
There will be no joking around on April Fool’s Day as the Rams look to get back to winning ways following two successive league defeats.
Automatic promotion chasing Ipswich Town are first up and after a narrow 1-0 defeat at Portman Road earlier this year, Paul Warne will be keen to get one back on the Tractor Boys and get the Rams back to winning ways.
07/04 – Forest Green Rovers Vs Derby County (3pm kick-off)
Relegation threatened Forest Green Rovers are the first trip of the month but as proved by their 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at the end of March, they won’t be a pushover.
The Rams hammered their opponents 4-0 back in December, with David McGoldrick netting three, and will be hoping for a repeat performance and result in what will be just their second ever competitive fixture at The New Lawn Stadium.
10/04 – Derby County Vs MK Dons (3pm kick-off)
The trip to Stadium MK earlier this season will live long in the memory of the Rams faithful that travelled. Near 7,000 were in the away end as Derby saw off MK Dons 3-1.
The Dons are under new management since that day and are still looking to cement their place in Sky Bet League One for 2023/24, so they could prove a dangerous opposition to face.
15/04 – Bristol Rovers Vs Derby County (3pm kick-off)
Bristol Rovers marks the the first of two long away trips in three days for the Rams.
The reverse fixture saw six goals in the first half alone with the Derby ultimately coming out on the right end of a 4-2 scoreline, with David McGoldrick netting his first-ever career hat-trick.
18/04 – Exeter City Vs Derby County (7:45pm kick-off)
Three days after the trip to Bristol, the Rams are off to the South West on a Tuesday evening to take on Exeter City.
The Grecians, who held the Rams to a 0-0 draw on home turf back in October, have been strong at home in this campaign and will be an incredibly tough opposition for what will mark the final away game of the month and the penultimate one of the season.
22/04 – Derby County Vs Burton Albion (3pm kick-off)
The Rams’ nearest rivals are in town for the penultimate home game of the regular season at Pride Park Stadium.
Paul Warne’s side played out a 1-1 draw with the Brewers back on an ice-cold day in December with James Collins on target in the first half before the hosts hit back.
The temperature and stakes will be higher for this one as Derby and Burton could both have things to play for as we enter the last matches of 2022/23.
29/04 – Derby County Vs Portsmouth (3pm kick-off)
Portsmouth are the visitors in what will be the final game of the regular 2022/23 League one season at Pride Park Stadium.
The Rams will be hoping there is more to follow at their packed out home in the coming weeks following this but in order for that – they could well need to bag the three points here against a side they drew 0-0 against at Fratton Park back in November.
Derby County Under-21s
April is the final month of the season for the Under-21s and whilst it may have been a tough one overall, they still have the chance to bring home some silverware when they face Buxton AFC in the Derbyshire Senior Cup Final.
There are four fixtures in total including the big final which will be played at Pride Park Stadium.
Friday 3rd April (7pm kick-off), Derby County Under-21s Vs West Bromwich Albion Under-21s
Friday 14th April (7pm kick-off), Aston Villa Under-21s Vs Derby County Under-21s
Wednesday 19th April (7:45pm kick-off), Derby County Under-21s Vs Buxton AFC (Derbyshire Senior Cup Final)
Monday 24th April (7pm kick-off), Derby County Under-21s Vs Newcastle United Under-21s
Derby County Under-18s
The penultimate month of the season for Jake Buxton’s Under-18s side is a hectic one.
With six league fixtures to play including a big game away at East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest, the Under-18s will look to finish the year on a high.
Saturday 1st April (12:30pm kick-off), Derby County Under-18s Vs Sunderland Under-18s
Tuesday 4th April (12:30pm kick-off), Leeds United Under-18s Vs Derby County Under-18s
Saturday 15th April (11am kick-off), Nottingham Forest Under-18s Vs Derby County Under-18s
Tuesday 18th April (7pm kick-off) Derby County Under-18s Vs Liverpool Under-18s
Saturday 22nd April (11am kick-off), Blackburn Rovers Under-18s Vs Derby County Under-18s
Saturday 29th April (12:30pm kick-off), Derby County Under-18s Vs Manchester City Under-18s
Derby County Women
After back-to-back defeats to Burnley Women and Nottingham Forest Women at the end of March, Samantha Griffiths’ Ewe Rams will look to get back to winning ways in April and round off what has been a very positive season overall.
There are four fixtures across the month including two home ties at Mickleover FC, where you can cheer on Derby County Women for the final time in 2022/23.
Sunday 2nd April (2pm kick-off), Derby County Women Vs Brighouse Town Women
Sunday 16th April (2pm kick-off), Wolverhampton Wanderers Women Vs Derby County Women
Sunday 23rd April (2pm kick-off), Huddersfield Town Women Vs Derby County Women
Sunday 30th April (2pm kick-off), Derby County Women Vs West Bromwich Albion Women
