The Rams’ start to the season has not been like the fitful beginning to last season, where 11 points from the first nine games saw Nigel Clough handed his coat.

Indeed, the Rams are at the moment sitting almost in the playoff places, with eight points from five Championship games. Not too bad; but while this has not been anything like the start of last season, it has not been like the end of last season either. You will recall that the Rams won five in a row at the end of the regular season, before a last day draw at Leeds and some more heroics in the playoffs.

It’s a Sunday match this weekend for the Rams, with a 1:15pm kick off against Forest at the City Ground and while its still far too early in the season to be talking about must-win games, with only five Championship matches played, the Rams need a result from this one; a draw at least. For me, this match has the look about it of pointing towards the direction the Rams will take for the rest of the season.

The reason I say the Rams need a result on Sunday is twofold. Firstly, the team needs to get back to playing the football we know they are capable of sooner rather than later. Secondly, and most importantly, Forest is at the top of the league and already five points ahead of the Rams.

If Forest wins on Sunday, they will be eight points ahead of us. Add to that a win by Watford (at Charlton) or Wolves (at Blackpool) on Saturday, and either one of them would also be seven points ahead of the Rams. These are certainly not insurmountable leads, but Rams fans know from last season how hard it is to catch the good teams once they get a clear lead.

Given the importance of a good result for Derby, we should ask ourselves: just how good are Forest, anyway? First place and thirteen points from five games are not to be sniffed at, but who have Forest played?

To date our neighbours have beaten Blackpool (home), Bournemouth (away), Reading (home), Sheffield Wednesday (away) and drawn at Bolton. To get to these results they have scored 11 goals and conceded 3. Leading scorers are Assombalonga with four, and Antonio with three.

Blackpool and Bolton are both in the bottom three, while Bournemouth, Reading and Wednesday are all in mid-table, just below the Rams.

Forest’s record is certainly a good one, but they haven’t played the top sides yet. Sunday will be their first big test. The Rams’ record is obviously not as good, and it has been achieved against clubs of a similar standing to Forest’s opponents; so Sunday will also be our first big test.

What is the likelihood that the Rams will get a result? Looking at our results so far, that defeat at Charlton looms large; it has really hurt what has been a pretty good start to the season.

The Rams have to quickly put behind them the growing habit of letting in poorly defended goals; that is something that Forest could profit from, with the strikers they have. The Rams also need to rediscover something like the goal scoring form from the Fulham match.

I imagine Forest will go into the match feeling confident, and looking forward to avenging the 5-0 defeat at our place last season. The Rams will go into the match knowing that we are a better team than Forest, and that we need to show it.

This is always a really big one for both teams, but we are the ones who really need the result.

I think we’ll get it.

Photo: Action Images

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