Now that DCFC has confirmed that the match is on despite bad weather, fans can rug up and head to Pride Park where they hope their team will provide the warmth. Of course the other option is watching it live on BBC 1!

Derby County vs. Nottingham Forest

Pride Park Stadium

12:15pm – Sunday February 6th 

Current Form – Last 5 League Matches:

Derby: 12th – W, W, W, D, L

Forest: 24th – D, L, L, L, L

The Teams:

Derby

Steve Davies may also find a place on the bench after this week being given the all clear to play without his protective face mask and gained some more game time for the Rams second string.

After very handy half hours works during the Rams come back at Barnsley, Nathan Tyson is a good chance to start up front most likely partnering Callum Ball which would see loan signing Ryan Noble dropping to the bench.

Paul Green is likely to return to the starting line up after remaining a Derby player. Tom Carroll or Jeff Hendrick is the most likely candidates to make way for Green.

This would be especially hard on Hendrick who filled in on the right wing for Paul in his absence and has been in good form over recent matches. James Bailey may also return to the centre of midfield after starting on the bench at Burnley.

The biggest dilemma Clough has is deciding if he gives Pride Park debuts to his young loan players with both Carroll and Noble filling positions that are up for grabs.

Throwing them into what will be a high pressure match may not be ideal where as Hendrick, Green and Tyson all know what to expect and have got the job done in these fixtures before – even if in Tyson’s case it was for the other team.

Manager's View:

Nigel Clough wants his Rams to relax:

"As a manager you just want your team to relax and perform, as we have done at Pride Park in the majority of games lately."

"The best example of that is the win at the City Ground in September. Despite everything that went on in the early minutes we kept our composure and played our football. We don't want the players to get lost in the excitement; we want them to keep their composure and play."

"Looking back to September, even our most ardent support would have feared the worst after a few minutes when Frank was sent off. To come back and win in the circumstances we did was brilliant and it certainly wasn't a fluke."

"It will count for nothing come 12:15pm on Sunday and nor do league positions either. It's all about what happens on the day."

"In that game we had to work incredibly hard to get the win and there's no question of us underestimating Forest because as we know in this league if you under estimate your opponents, home or away, you'll come unstuck."

Forest

Midfielder Andy Reid is also a chance to be recalled while strikers Marlon Harewood, Marcus Tudgay and Dexter Blackstock could all play their part in the match.

Manager's View:

Steve Cotterill hopes his team will stay calm for the massive clash:

"We've got to make sure we play with fire in our bellies but with ice in our heads. We've got to make sure we keep all of our players on the pitch - it's important that we do that."

"By the time the game comes we will be prepared enough and ready for the challenge ... one that we're all looking forward to."

"I'm looking forward to it very much. I've been asked whether I knew much about the game and what it means before I came to Nottingham but if you are in to your football you will always know about derby games around the country."

"Everyone knows about Forest-Derby games - that's why it has been put back a day so that television viewers around the country can watch the game, not fans of both teams."

"It's two clubs with fantastic histories and 25,000-30,000 people watching them on a regular basis, so it's not a game that is taken lightly around the country."

Forest Player To Watch:

Danny Higginbotham –

Every Rams fan must have groaned on hearing he had signed for Forest just before the local clash. Danny was a popular player in his time at the Rams but expect that to be erased as he turns up in a red shirt. The ironic thing is - come the end of the match - Tyson could be a Rams hero while Higginbotham becomes a villain. Didn’t see that coming!!

Daniel J’s Match Preview:

There are rarely bigger matches marked on a Rams fans season calendar than the two clashes with Forest. What makes it even more special is Derby could do the double over their arch enemy for the first time since 1971/72. That season a certain Brian Clough was in charge and I am sure Nigel would like to match another of his old mans records!

Besides that fact is there are 3 reasons why the Rams need to win this clash:

1.

With the Rams still in touch with the top six - the three points will ensure the gap does not widen any further after the slip up at Burnley. Although management continually claims the play-offs may be beyond their ability, behind closed doors Nigel and his team will want to make a run for a spot.

2.

Derby must win against teams rooted to the bottom of the table as they did against Coventry. Even if it proves to be a scrap the team must find a way to claim victory. If the Rams are going to genuinely move forward, winning games such as this, no matter who they are against, is a must to prove they have truly turned the corner.

3.

We must beat and humiliate Forest at every opportunity.

Reasons to win aside, it seems with comments like "the script is written" during the week from Nigel, Nathan Tyson will be handed a start against his former side, probably at the expense of Noble.

Tyson will be looking to prove to both his former employers and Rams fans, who to date think he has a permanent bed in the sick bay, that he can deliver. Hopefully he builds on what was an impressive half hour at Burnley and offers what would be an olive branch (instead of a corner flag) to the home fans.

It will be interesting to see what combination Clough goes for in midfield but I would expect his most experienced line up of Ward, Bryson, Bailey and Green to get the nod in such a massive match if all are fit and available.

Forest have nothing to lose (except the match) and with their current run of form would be expected to throw everything at the Rams. If instead they sit back and try and hold on, it could get messy.

Derby on the other hand will be hoping to make up for their midweek hiccup and fire from the outset rather than be trying to play catch up again.

If form is used to select the winner then the Rams have it won but in these matches form can go out the window. The importance of the match cannot go unnoticed by players, especially when playing to a sell out crowd, no matter how much managers and coaches try to say it is ‘just another 3 points’.

For me it’s the Rams in a canter against a side that are getting used to losing and are likely to be nervous from the outset especially if the home team can get going early and give the home team something to make some noise about.

Daniel.J’s Score Prediction:

The Rams to do the double over Forest for the first time since 71/72.

Tyson to score a brace - while Forest will get a consolation scored by one of the many ex-Rams players that may pop up to haunt us.

Derby 3 – 1 Forest

Since writing this article, RamZone learned of the shock death of former Forest owner Nigel Doughty on the eve of the 2012 'derby' match, at the age of only 54 years.

Both teams will wear black armbands as a mark of respect for a man who was a great lover of not just his team but football itself.

It's only right to record our condolences to Mr Doughty's family and friends and to Forest fans on his sad passing.

Will the Rams do the double over Forest?

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Photo: Action Images

ConnexIV added 08:29 - Feb 5 Thanks ramzone, this is a sad time for everyone connected with Forest.....
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RamZone_News added 11:02 - Feb 5 It's a football article....condolences were already quickly conveyed by RamZone in the earlier 'history' article. RIP Mr Doughty.
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ConnexIV added 16:57 - Feb 5 You misunderstand me. I am thanking you for your final paragraph. Events sometimes put football into perspective... this is one of those times.
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