The patience of fans is running low for Paul Warne at Derby County. The Rams are among the league’s big hitters and have demands for promotion, ideally as league champions. Derby look well off the pace, currently ninth and five points off of sixth-placed Stevenage. Recent away results really reflect their sticky situation, as they were the opposition for lowly Cheltenham Town’s first goal of the season, lost 1-0 to low-scoring Shrewsbury Town, and most recently were humiliated 3-1 at surprise package Stevenage.

For the sake of Paul Warne’s job, he really needs to take advantage of a midweek home fixture, at a place where Derby are unbeaten in five games and have only conceded to league leaders Portsmouth in that time. A high-quality performance from the Rams usually contains standout performances from goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith, Irish centre-back Eiran Cashin, midfield metronome Conor Hourihane, flying winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, and the goalscoring output of either Irishman James Collins or Northern Irishman Conor Washington. Homegrown product Louie Sibley may again be favoured as the attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1, though he has the versatility to go nearly everywhere apart from centre back.

Newly promoted Northampton Town face Derby County in a league fixture for the first time since 1967, their only competitive meeting with the Rams this century being an FA Cup fourth round tie and replay back in 2019-20. Defeat to Bristol Rovers leaves the Cobblers just above the relegation zone with 14 points from 14 games, though it is always a position they would have expected to be in as a side new to the division lineup. Jon Brady has had to cope with a squad that has more quality in defence and midfield than frontline areas.

Jon Guthrie holds an influential role in central defence, and his absence from three of the last four games has been felt. Brighton and Hove Albion loanee Marc Leonard is a technical joy in deeper midfield, partnered by the legs of Shaun McWilliams or William Hondermarck. Sam Hoskins has continued his great form from last season and leads the way for the club with eight league goals, mostly from the flanks of the frontline. Suspension for Kieron Bowie and injury to Louis Appéré has heaped more demand onto Tyreece Simpson. The Huddersfield Town loanee has a superb physical build but has disappointed with his overall game so far.

This rearranged League One game provides a meeting between a team badly needing a win and a team generally happy to take whatever they can from this away trip. Northampton victories are limited in number, but they have often been in close contests and rarely been outclassed. That isn’t welcome news to Derby manager Paul Warne, who needs to showcase his worth as the Rams’ promotion-challenging manager. Derby’s home record, and a match against bottom-quarter opposition, should see them to a Pride Park win on Tuesday.

Following a 2-0 win over Shrewsbury Town at the weekend, a third consecutive league win, Wigan Athletic are out of League One’s relegation zone. The turnaround has come through a number of factors.

Manager Shaun Maloney, for instance, has found success with a shift to a 3-4-3. Dynamic midfielder/full back Sean Clare has a new role on the right of a back three, providing an experienced presence alongside young talents Charlie Hughes and Liam Morrison. Winger Jordan Jones transitions to a dynamic wing back role, with the versatile Steven Sessegnon in midfield, while Baba Adeeko and Liam Shaw provide influential, all-action roles in central midfield. Stephen Humphrys provides lively pace from the frontline, usually joined by Thelo Aasgaard and Fulham loanee Martial Godo. The more physical outlet of Josh Magennis is also available to lead the line, with young striker Josh Stones emerging after being on loan in Scotland this time last year.

Wigan go for a fourth consecutive win with a midweek fixture against Charlton Athletic. Charlton’s reputation leaves you with a desire to see them pushing and achieving promotion to the Championship, but it is difficult to feel that confident in their chances. Michael Appleton has a top-heavy side with rich attacking options as his particular highlight. Lively striker Alfie May, 20-year-old winger Tyreece Campbell, and teenage striker Miles Leaburn are the standout players. The shuttle runs and ball-carrying ability of Panutche Camará make him a valuable asset, and his recent return to the team is a welcome sight. Scott Fraser should be deployed as the prime creator in the team, but due to the abundance of forward options, he has had to be too often shoehorned into a deeper midfield role in a 4-2-3-1 alongside enforcer George Dobson. Defensive issues, though, have been regularly exposed with a lack of general quality and senior depth. It’s Tennai Watson or the inexperienced youngster Nathan Asiimwe at right back. Michael Hector isn’t a standout partner for Lloyd Jones in the centre. Right footed centre back Terell Thomas is having to play in a secondary left back role.

The reduced, rearranged slate provides Wigan Athletic with an opportunity they need to seize. The Latics quickly overcame an eight-point deduction at the start of the campaign to move into positive numbers and off the bottom but struggled soon after. Now, having played eight of their first 12 league matches away, Shaun Maloney’s team has a string of home games and more favourable fixtures that could see them climb clear of trouble. Having recently beaten high-flying Oxford United at the DW Stadium, there should be no valid reason to fear being outplayed by a top-heavy, inconsistent Charlton Athletic. Win number four is the achievable target.