IF Steve McClaren needed any reminder of how tough a test Derby County could be in for at Ewood Park tonight then he got one on Saturday.

The former England manager was in the stands as Blackburn Rovers extended their unbeaten home league run to nine matches with a rousing 3-1 win over Wigan Athletic.

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“I was at the Wigan game, Wigan looked to be on top and then Blackburn turned it around, showing great character,” said Derby boss McClaren, whose side drew their East Midlands derby at Nottingham Forest the following afternoon.

“They are playing well and it is never, never an easy game when you go to Blackburn.

“They have got good players – (Jordan) Rhodes can score goals, (Rudy) Gestede is a handful, (Tom) Cairney is a good player, (Grant) Hanley is a good leader, and (Ben) Marshall has got a great strike on him, as we saw against Wigan.

“So it’s a difficult game.”

Rams centre back Jake Buxton will miss out tonight after being sent off in the 1-1 draw at Forest and he will be replaced in McClaren’s starting line-up by Zak Whitbread.

Winger Jamie Ward returns from injury but striker Leon Best, who is on a season-long loan from Rovers, is ineligible to face his parent club.