Derby County will have the unenviable task of trying to salvage their season at Wolves’ Molineux stadium in tonight’s game, as their grip on the top two is no more following an unexpected implosion which has left the Rams without a win in five.

Steve McClaren’s side had seemed dead-certs to recover from their play-off final heartbreak last season at Wembley – where they lost 1-0 to a Bobby Zamora goal in the 90th minute against 10-man QPR – by claiming an automatic promotion position, but this is now under severe threat.

That dismal run has coincided with Middlesbrough, Watford and Norwich turning up the heat in the title race, which has in turn left the Rams five points off the top two positions. Perhaps of even more concern, however, is the fact that Derby are now just three points ahead of seventh-placed Ipswich.

One thing that is on Derby’s side is their goal difference, which is a staggering +28 – the fifth best in the league. Thankfully for the club’s supporters, this means that if worst comes to worst and they do lose while Ipswich and sixth-placed Brentford capitalise, they will still remain in the top six for now.

Wolves will certainly have one eye fixed on the Rams’ alarming slump in form, as they can go two points behind Derby and level on points with Brentford ahead of Saturday’s fixtures, with goal difference being the only barrier between Kenny Jackett’s side and a play-off place if they win.

Jackett has worked wonders in the West Midlands since he joined Wolves last summer, taking the club back into the Championship as League One winners while also pushing the team towards back-to-back promotions.

This is a fixture where Wolves will certainly feel confident they can take another huge step towards the Premier League as they have three wins in their last four matches at Molineux and have racked up an impressive 13 goals in the process – conceding just two in a 2-2 draw with Watford.

This, coincided with Derby’s form, has led the bookies to believe that they are indeed favourites, with a price of 8/5 available on a Wolves win. Derby are still reasonably-fancied despite their recent slump and are priced at 2/1 to take all three points, while the draw is also available at 12/5.

If Derby are to have any chance of getting their act together again, they will need to keep Wolves striker, Benik Afobe, quiet. The former Arsenal man is the Football League’s top scorer following a productive loan spell at MK Dons before Wolves signed him on a permanent deal, with 27 goals to his name this season.

Afobe is 11/2 to score first and 11/5 to score anytime, while Derby’s best chance of finding the net lies with Hull loanee, Tom Ince. The winger is listed at 17/2 to score first and 7/2 to register anytime.