The big one - the type of local Derby that Leicester can only dream about.

 

Derby County v Nottingham Forest
Coca Cola Championship
Pride Park - Derby
Saturday 30th January 2010 - 13:00pm

 

Nottingham Forest:

Current League Position: 2/24
Leading Scorer: Earnshaw 10lg
Manager: Billy Davies
Kit home: Red Shirt/White shorts
Kit away: Light blue/black shorts
Last game: Nottingham Forest 5-0 QPR

 

Quotes from the manager:

Wee Billy speaking to the DET on Thursday;

"Promotion – not a chance,at the moment we have achieved nothing."

"People can talk all they like but there are too many sporting moments in days gone by where teams or individuals have blown it at the final hurdle. It can happen."

"We can't afford to do anything except prepare for the next match and keep picking up points. This is a good side and we are still learning and working hard."

"We were clinical against QPR and it is an important two points gained over West Brom.But until it's over, I'm sorry. There are a lot of teams outside the top six that will still believe they can catch us – and they can."

 

Current Trees Squad:

No. Position. Player
1 Keeper Lee Camp (vice captain)
2 Defender James Perch
4 Defender Luke Chambers
5 Defender Wes Morgan
6 Defender Kelvin Wilson
7 Midfield Paul Anderson
8 Midfield Lewis McGugan
9 Striker Dele Adebola
10 Striker Robert Earnshaw
11 Striker Nathan Tyson
12 Midfield Garath McCleary
14 Striker Joe Garner
15 Midfield Chris Cohen
16 Defender Chris Gunter
17 Striker David McGoldrick
18 Midfield Paul McKenna (captain)
19 Midfield Guy Moussi
21 Keeper Paul Smith
23 Striker Dexter Blackstock
28 Midfield Radoslaw Majewski (on loan from Polonia Warsaw)
29 Defender Julian Bennett
33 Defender Joel Lynch
38 Keeper Karl Darlow
39 Defender Jordan Fairclough
 

The Rams:

 

Quotes from the manager:

Nigel Clough speaking to the BBC following the Plymouth game:

"We are very disappointed to lose but it was a very good performance. It's strange that sometimes you lose and yet you play that well."

"Sometimes you lose and you are so low but there is no reason for the players to feel like that."

"We have Nottingham Forest at the weekend and I will take a performance like that - if we get the luck in front of goal."

Clough speaking to the DET before the Forest game:

"There is no better game to bounce back in than this one,"

"Sometimes when you lose a match, you can feel so low but that did not apply after the Plymouth game on Tuesday night".

 

Current Rams Squad:

No. Position. Player
1 Keeper Stephen Bywater
2 Defender Paul Connolly
3 Defender James McEveley
4 Midfielder Paul Green
5 Defender Miles Addison (vice-captain)
6 Defender Dean Leacock
7 Midfielder Lee Croft
8 Midfielder Robbie Savage (captain)
9 Striker Rob Hulse
10 Midfielder Kris Commons
11 Midfielder Gary Teale
12 Striker Chris Porter
13 Keeper Saul Deeney
14 Defender Shaun Barker
15 Striker Luke Varney
16 Midfielder Stephen Pearson
17 Defender Jake Buxton
18 Midfielder Ben Pringle
19 Midfielder Lee Johnson (from Bristol City until 31 Jan 2010)
20 Striker Steve Davies
21 Midfielder Dean Moxey
22 Midfielder Arnaud Mendy
23 Defender Mark O'Brien
26 Midfielder Lee Hendrie
28 Defender Mitchell Hanson
29 Striker Greg Mills
33 Striker D. J. Campbell (from Leicester City until 31 Jan 2010)
34 Keeper Ross Atkins
35 Striker Callum Ball
-- Defender Nicky Hunt (from Bolton until 7 Feb 2010)

 

What the Bookies think:

Home Win: 12/5
Draw: 9/4
Away win: 10/11

First Scorer: Dexter Blackstock , Robert Earnshaw 11/2, Chris Porter, Rob Hulse, DJ Campbell 6/1.
 

Information for travelling fans:

Driving: Take Brian Clough Way (the A52) towards Derby follow the signs for Pride Park and you will see the stadium on your right.  Follow signs for away supporter parking or stay on the A52 to Pentagon Island. You know where it is.

Parking: Away fans should park at Catalyst on London Rd opposite the Navigation pub. It’s about 10-15 minutes walk from the ground. Don’t be tempted to park at the shopping centre on Pride Park unless you fancy being clamped. You can also park for a £5 at the hospital further up London Rd near the hospital and the Railway station.

Another alternative is to park at Pentagon Island. Take the exit for the cattle market and turn left and after a few hundred yards you will come to The Cattle Market Car Park. It’s about 10 minutes walk to the ground from here. I'd yake the train myself.

Drinking: Given the early kick-off and the nature of the game, most of the pubs will be shut to away supporters.  It’s probably not a wise idea for Forest fans to be drinking on match days in Derby anyway.

 

Mick’s Prediction:

In common with many fans, I dislike the build up to these games. Don't get me wrong - The Forest fixture is the first one I look for when they are announced - but no matter how well the team are playing and no matter what the position of the clubs - losing this one hurts.

Many Forest fans seem extremely confident that all they have to do is turn up to win and on form, you'd agree. Look at what the bookies think - odds on to Forest.

They say that form goes out of the window in these type of games but in fact if you look at the statistics - it rarely does. It's just we remember when it does go out of the window.

Billy Davies should probably be more nervous than Nigel Clough. It's all there for him to lose. Nigel Clough should send out an attacking dogs of war type team - and that probably means a place for Savage.

Savage is the perfect player to disrupt and wind up the opposition. Whether he can do it anymore is another point and there are those who again suggesting his legs have gone. All we're asking for Rob is one more game.

If we get among the Garibaldi's from the start tomorrow, it will give the fans something the cheer. Get the atmosphere up and get behind the team and who knows what may happen?

Cry Havoc! and let slip the dogs of war!

 

Mick's Team:

Bywater, Hunt, Barker, McEveley, Moxey, Green, Savage, Johnson, Pearson, Commons, Hulse -Subs: Buxton, Deeney, Teale, Pringle, Anderson, Campbell, Porter, Davies

 

Prediction:

Heart: Derby 1-0 Forest

Head: Derby: 0-3 Forest

 

 

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls