Aston Villa v Derby: Inside track on Dean Smith's Championship play-off final opponents

We spoke with Stephen Nicholson, football editor and chief football writer for the Derby Telegraph, to get a proper look at Frank Lampard's side.

See what he had to say here...

So, Frank Lampard's Derby have made it all the way to the Championship play-off final, how would you describe the season at Pride Park?

Whatever happens on Monday, win or lose it has been a good season for Derby and for Frank Lampard in his first 12 months as a manager following a glittering playing career.

A top-six finish and a place in the play-offs with a shot at promotion is progress.

This was viewed as a transition season given all the changes last summer - a new manager, new backroom staff, nine new signings and the blow of losing player-of-the-year, top scorer and the Championship's Golden Boot winner in Matej Vydra.

As well as that, Lampard has reduced the average age of the team/squad and implemented a different style of play.

That is quite a 'to-do' list for a somebody who was new to management.

It's obviously something of a Chelsea legends derby between Lampard and John Terry, do you think that sub-plot could have a telling effect on the occasion?

They know each other well from their playing day with Chelsea and England, and they are close friends, but I don't think that will have any telling effect on the game.

What sort of XI could we see take to the pitch at Wembley on Monday? Are there any injury worries?

Martyn Waghorn missed both legs of the semi-final against Leeds due to an Achilles' injury, but he had been a key figure in helping Derby to finish in the top six. We will wait to see if he is fit.

Striker Jack Marriott made a strong claim to start with his two goals in the semi-final second leg at Leeds, as did Mason Bennett who started up front. Ashley Cole is expected to come in at left back for the suspended Scott Malone.

Possible line up:

Roos; Bogle, Keogh, Tomori, Cole; Mount, Johnson, Holmes; Wilson, Waghorn/Marriott/Bennett, Lawrence.

Who's the biggest threat in Derby's ranks and why?

Harry Wilson, on loan from Liverpool, is top scorer with 18 goals and Villa will be aware of his threat from free kicks, but another of Derby's loan players is Mason Mount, and the 20-year-old from Chelsea has had a terrific season.

The attacking midfielder offers goals, assists and quality. If he finds pockets of space, he can punish opponents.

Villa obviously got the better of The Rams home and away over the season, will those games be in Lampard's thinking heading into the final?

The aggregate score in the two league games was 7-0 to Villa, pretty comprehensive. Having said that, Derby had lost three times to Leeds United (4-1, 2-0 and 1-0 for a 7-1 aggregate) but they still beat them in the second leg of their play-off semi-final to reach Wembley.

Frank Lampard and his staff will have looked back over the two league meetings with Villa from earlier this season and highlighted areas where they can do better as well as areas where they can trouble Villa.

Where do you think the game could be won or lost on Monday?

Midfield will be a key area, as it often is, and Derby will need to frustrate Jack Grealish, if possible, and starve him of the ball in the final third where he can be a threat.

Villa's power in the wide areas gave Derby problems in the two league games, but Derby can have some joy in the wide areas and ask questions of Villa's full backs defensively.

When Derby play with tempo and energy, they can be a handful as Leeds discovered at Elland Road.

How well equipped are Derby for Premier League football in your opinion?

Let's try and get out of the Championship first before we concern ourselves with such a question.

Whichever division Derby find themselves next season, the Championship or the Premier League, there is much work to be done with the squad.

Three of Derby's key players - Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori and Harry Wilson - will return to their parent clubs after Monday while the Rams have at least seven players out of contract this summer.

What have you made of Aston Villa from afar, do you think they've got what it takes to play Premier League football?

Villa have shown that on their day they have been as good as any team in the Championship this season. They have beaten Derby twice, 3-0 at Pride Park and 4-0 at Villa Park, and their run of 10 consecutive wins through March and April was hugely impressive.

Jack Grealish is Villa's captain and talisman, and Derby need to keep him quiet and, if possible, push him deeper and deeper in his search for the ball.

John McGinn has enjoyed a good first season and Tammy Abraham has again shown that he can score plenty of goals at this level.

Climbing out of the Championship is very different to playing week in, week out in the Premier League. It is impossible to say for sure whether any promoted team is ready.

Your match prediction?

I always felt Derby would finish top six and reach the play-offs.

I also tipped them to win the second leg at Leeds despite losing the first leg at home 1-0.

I'll stay in a positive mode and go for a 3-1 Derby win.

You can follow Stephen on Twitter here.