The 28th September 2013 will go down as a key day in Rams history. Oddly, the 0-1 reverse against our arch rivals and Forsyth thinking about his dinner rather than marking will be (thankfully) a fleeting memory of that particular date.
Instead, it will be remembered for Derby doing the unthinkable and sacking a Clough.
I think we will all remember where we were when the news hit. Personally, I was just ready to tuck into dinner. Admittedly, I was more concerned about hammering the fresh bottle of Vino that accompanied it to ensure no recollection of events, as Sky Sports announced some breaking news.
I heard the presenter speak. I saw the accompanying pictures. I saw the yellow ticker at the bottom of the screen. But still I didn’t believe it. Where would the Rams go from here?
Fast forwards to the present, to March 22nd and the next instalment of The Brian Clough Way showdown.
So where do we and our camel-loving foes find ourselves now?
Well, in footballing terms, a great deal has changed in seven months. Galvanised by the Return of the Mac, attacking impetus and a fair rub of the green, we find ourselves at the top of the play-off pack, something which didn’t look likely given our start to the campaign.
Florest on the other hand, nailed on for automatic promotion and with ‘King’ (Read odious sweaty man) Billy already having the freedom of Nottingham in the bag, have begun to stutter and look in real danger of dropping from the top-six with ten to go.
For all of our attacking prowess and early-season goals, someone appears to have re-programmed the sat-nav to ‘agonizingly close’ for the previous four games. For over six hours now, we have failed to hit the target. What better opposition then, to make up for lost time with a hatful, than the side coming to a proper stadium.
Two out-of-form sides. The Premier League becoming more than a pipe-dream with every game that is chalked off. Surely the biggest East Midlands Derby for many a year?
Typing this now, I can feel the nausea coming. A full Pride Park. The South Stand chocker with home fans for the first time. We have to deliver. The difference between a gap of three or nine points between us and the dogs is massive at this time of the season.
How sweet would it be to potentially stick the fatal knife into their promotion challenge? Sweeter still with the scandalous news that the aforementioned height-restricted Scot, will be present on the touchline.
A prediction then. My heart says that we are due to give someone a hiding. Why not them at 12:15 on Saturday? I maintain that an early goal will spark pandemonium and bring more to follow. We have to score first. If we do, then I think we will cause Fawaz to go crying into one of his fridges.
My head on the other hand, suggests a tight, cagey affair, ala the typical local derby. I also have a nagging thought that something controversial is going to happen. The game is set up for it. The most crucial game in recent history between us and you can almost put your house on a game-changing red-card or contentious moment. That reminds me, I must take my coffee cup…
For me though, Saturday gives us a real chance of making a statement and creating a gulf between our clubs, one that already exists off the field.
What sort of club sees their local newspaper banned from interviews?
What sort of club sees their chairman make up horrendous poetry on Twitter and gloat to opposition fans in victory?
A club that quite frankly don’t deserve to be anywhere near the top flight, or anywhere near our standpoint in the league.
Today sees us with a real chance to ensure that this is the case.
Come On You Rams!!