Tom Allen thought that Derby at Pride Park would prove too strong for Leeds in the Carling Cup and he was right as they won a tight game 2-1


The Carling Cup has reached the last 16 stage and it's good to see seven non-Premier League sides still remain. Two of them clash at Pride Park on Tuesday, where Derby entertain Leeds, and I take the Championship club to progress. Even money about a home win looks generous enough, given their decent run of form, and I think they are a class above their opponents.

Derby were an embarrassment in the top flight last season, when recording the lowest ever Premier League points tally, and things didn't start much better for them this term in the second tier of English football.