Match preview: Derby vs Forest

16 December 2018

Nottingham Forest make the short journey down the A52 for the first East Midlands derby of the season as they take on Derby County on Monday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Reds visit Pride Park with just three points separating the two sides in the Championship table as Forest look to get back to winning ways following last weekend's defeat against Preston.

Frank Lampard's Derby have made a strong start to the season under the new manager, sitting in the play-off positions, and will provide tough opposition for Aitor Karanka's men.

Team news

Tobias Figueiredo serves the final game of his three-match suspension, while boss Aitor Karanka will leave it late to decide on the fitness of defenders Michael Dawson and Danny Fox.

From the Forest camp

Aitor Karanka

Lewis Grabban

The opposition view

Derby boss Frank Lampard says he is well aware of the significance of Monday night's game as he gets set to take charge of his first East Midlands derby.

He said: "I will be there to try and motivate the players, maybe to temper motivation and make sure it's the right kind.

"They shouldn't need any telling of what it means to the fans of both clubs so that's part of an intense derby that comes in football and you should love playing as a player.

"As a manager, you still have a job to do. You have to work, look at Nottingham Forest, who are a good team in the Championship, and know it's a big challenge for you in a football sense. The atmosphere adds to that.

"You should live for them as players because it's important to understand that's what we're in the game for. You can see the fans and how they feel and we need to try and send them home happy."

One to watch - Harry Wilson

Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson has impressed for The Rams since he joined in the summer.

With eight goals to his name so far, the winger will be a key attacking threat for Frank Lampard's side.

Head to head

Forest wins - 39
Derby wins - 37
Draws - 25

Tickets

Forest supporters have snapped up the full allocation of 3,111 tickets and no further tickets will be made available.

Coverage

Due to the game being shown live on Sky Sports, there will be no live broadcast on iFollow Forest for international subscribers. Audio commentary will be available however.

There will be full coverage of the game via the club's official social media channels and in the Match Centre.

Other results

Aston Villa 2-2 Stoke
Blackburn 2-2 Birmingham
Bolton 0-1 Leeds
Bristol City 2-2 Norwich
Hull 2-0 Brentford
Ipswich 1-0 Wigan
Preston 3-2 Millwall
QPR 2-1 Middlesbrough
Rotherham 1-1 Reading
Sheffield United 1-2 West Brom
Swansea 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Match Reports

Derby 0-0 Forest

17 December 2018

Nottingham Forest and Derby County played out a battling goalless draw at Pride Park as the East Midlands derby spoils were shared.

It was a well-fought contest between the two rivals, with Forest edging the chances including Joe Lolley's late strike which rattled the crossbar, but both sides had to settle for a point.

There was a tentative start to the match as both sides mustered half-chances. Jayden Bogle crashed a volley from the edge of the box straight at Costel Pantilimon on four minutes, before Lewis Grabban drove at goal on 15 only to see his low, driven effort well saved by Scott Carson.

A real competitive edge arrived on 20 minutes as strong tackles were going in across the pitch, but there lacked real quality from either side as the game struggled to find any real rhythm.

Tom Huddlestone failed to convert at the back post following a Derby corner on 24 minutes and the best chance of the half came on 44 minutes for The Reds. Joao Carvalho clipped a ball over the top for Grabban to run onto, he checked inside his man but saw his effort tipped narrowly round the post.

The Reds were just about edging it after their strong end to the first half, and Saidy Janko had a chance five minutes into the second half as he latched onto Ben Osborn's hooked through ball, only to blaze over from a tight angle.

With 65 minutes on the clock, there was the first meaningful efforts from either goalkeeper as Carson denied Joe Lolley with a superb save. The in-form Forest man cut inside from the right and curled an effort towards the top corner but the former England stopper palmed it over the crossbar.

The Rams had a great chance with a fine bit of play on 76 as Harry Wilson's stinging volley was well saved by Pantilimon, but it was on 82 minutes that Lolley thought he had given Forest the lead.

The winger exchanged passes with. Carvalho on the edge of the Derby area and hit a fine first-time effort which beat Carson but crashed off the top of the crossbar.

Daryl Murphy came off the bench as The Reds pushed for the winning goal, with Derby sub David Nugent forcing Pantilimon into a low save with a header as the game headed into injury time. There was to be no winner, however, as an evenly-fought match ended goalless at Pride Park.

Forest: Pantilimon, Darikwa, Hefele, Robinson, Janko, Yacob, Colback, Lolley (Cash 90'), Carvalho, Osborn (c), Grabban (Murphy 83')

Unused subs: Steele, Guedioura, Watson, Dias, Ansarifard

Bookings: Hefele 33', Osborn 55', Colback 87'

Derby: Carson, Bogle, Keogh (c), Fimori, Malone, Huddleston, Mount (Holmes 85'), Bryson, Wilson, Lawrence (Nugent 74'), Marriott

Unused subs: Roos, Wisdom, Jozefzoon, Pearce, Evans

Bookings: Bryson 29', Bogle 45', Huddlestone 68'

Referee: Keith Stroud

Attendance: 31,160 (3,109 away)