Derby County vs Brentford preview - Hughes banned for Rams

Will Hughes is suspended for Derby's crucial clash with fellow promotion hopefuls Brentford.

Hughes received his 10th yellow card of the season during the win at Wigan and the midfielder will begin a two-match ban against the Bees.

With Ryan Shotton still out due to concussion, Rams head coach Steve McClaren has hinted that he will stick with the same defence that started at the DW Stadium. McClaren moved captain Richard Keogh to right-back, Craig Forsyth to centre-back alongside the recalled Raul Albentosa and handed Stephen Warnock a full league debut at left-back on Monday.

The move paid off as the Rams ended their seven-game winless run with a 2-0 victory.

Brentford will check on striker Chris Long, who missed Monday's 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest with a stomach upset.

The on-loan Everton youngster was due to start the match as boss Mark Warburton wanted to give top scorer Andre Gray a rest.

Skipper Jonathan Douglas was given a breather against Forest and he is set to return in midfield.

Lewis Macleod has recovered from a hamstring injury but is still short of match fitness and Scott Hogan is continuing his recovery from cruciate ligament damage.