The East Midlands is buzzing as fans contemplate tonight’s clash between local rivals Nottingham Forest and Derby County at the City Ground, where 2000 loyal visitors could witness the Rams going top of the Championship, if Derby County manage to extend their brilliant form with a win over hapless Forest.
All the clichés are being rolled out ahead of what could be a vital fixture for both teams. Hardened Forest fans will be hoping that the saying “The form book goes out of the window in local derbies” is in evidence tonight. There is certainly nothing in Forest’s recent form to provide optimism for the long-suffering Reds supporters.
The Brian Clough trophy was conceived to be contested by Derby County and Nottingham Forest as a legacy to remind older fans, and educate those younger ones, that the great Yorkshire man achieved almost unparalleled success with both Rams and Reds across the 70s and early 80s.
The passion runs high in this fixture, and although a faux-hatred exists amongst many, you’d struggle to find a fan at either the iPro or the City Ground who doesn’t want this fixture a couple of times a season.
Over the last decade, both clubs have flirted with success and endured misery, but not often in tandem. The chanting will be humorous, and hopefully not too distasteful, the ‘banter’ will be bordering on bad taste, and there’ll generally be nothing too taboo!
Derby fans will be on the receiving end of jibes about their last stint in the Premier League, whilst they themselves will no doubt be mocking the ‘entertaining’ owner of Nottingham Forest, Fawaz-al-Hasawi.
Both managers will be under pressure, but on different ends of the scale, surely Dougie Freedman needs to avoid defeat to keep his job, with defeats costing both Nigel Clough and Stuart Pearce their jobs in this fixture over the last few years. Paul Clement, on the other hand, knows a win can propel Derby to the top of the league, even if only for a day, with promotion rivals all in action on Saturday.
Both teams are suffering injuries, with the Reds missing a whole team. Derby have a handful of players out at the moment, but possess arguably the best overall squad in the division.
Tonight’s game is on SkyTV, and regardless of result, expect passion, noise, aggression, possibly Red cards, possibly a penalty or two, but ultimately, an entertaining contest which usually sets an example of how a derby should be played.
