2:03 Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Luton and Nottingham Forest
So it’s a massive shame that Richard Keogh, our latest pantomime villain, will not be around. Having been a huge part in Derby’s success over recent seasons, he will be a big miss for them on Saturday and we need to take advantage.
Sabri Lamouchi is a class act and we should be feeling confident after a convincing win at Luton on Saturday where Joe Lolley and Lewis Grabban both had their best games of the season. They both know exactly what Saturday means to the fans.
This match is an opportunity for Derby to stem the flow. They have been on a half decent run as of late and a win against Forest turns their season around and takes the pressure of Philip Cocu.
A wise man told me earlier this week there will be a script written for that pair somewhere.
I just hope neither of them reads it.
‘This is the perfect opportunity to prove people wrong’
Ollie Wright – @derbycountyblog
For over a decade, Forest and Derby have been practically joined at the hip.
Both have been stuck in the Championship since 2008 – suffering play-off heartbreak despite significant spending. Both have ambitious, colourful owners and both are desperate to finally return to the Premier League.
Many East Midlands Derby matches are tense, attritional affairs. But an early goal can cause pandemonium.
The day Craig Bryson scored a hat-trick as Derby scored five with no reply in 2014 to equal our biggest win in history over Forest is unforgettable. Then there was the 3-2 FA Cup fourth-round win at the City Ground in 2009 when Derby came back from 2-0 down to win the tie. Delirium.
But the most extraordinary game of all was in 2011. Our goalkeeper Frank Fielding was dismissed in the second minute, conceding a penalty which Derby scored to go one up. Yet we somehow rallied to win 2-1.
Having already been criticised for fielding a weakened team at Forest in the cup, Phillip Cocu understands a good result here would do him a massive favour. Fair play to him, he’s provided a measured, mature presence throughout the drink-driving storm which ended Richard Keogh’s Derby career.
1:53 Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Derby and Middlesbrough
However his slow, calm, patient, methodical style of football reflects his persona. That’s great when there’s an end product. But until we convincingly beat Boro last weekend, Derby have struggled to create chances. A change to 4-4-2 diamond paid dividends. So we will have to see whether we continue with that shape on Saturday.
Cocu needs something to spark his season into life. Derby take on a Forest side who have arguably – according to their stats – been over-performing. Defeat on Saturday would be painful and would reinforce the view our current Rams’ squad is not good enough to challenge for promotion.
This is the perfect opportunity for Derby to get one over our Midlands rivals and prove people wrong.
Sourse: skysports.com
