The Derby Day Match Preview

This is the bit where i normally publish a small introduction to the weekends game, as if this game needs any introduction. This game has all the hallmarks of lambs to the slaughter (pun fully intended) & Billy Davies will probably be working as hard on keeping the players grounded as he is on our tactics. Of course, the usual clichés will be out in force in the run up to kick off of the 'form book going out the window' along with 'it's about who wants it most' & both managers no doubt telling us it's 'just another game & opportunity for 3 points' but as we all know, a cliché means nothing & this game means everything.

We'll batter em

Derby are probably still without Leacock (knee) & Addison (foot) for this match game. Lee Croft has been struggling with a hamstring problem. Kris Commons seems to be back to as close to full fitness as he will ever get (coming on for 4 minutes in the previous game)

Although the big striker isn't having the best of seasons so far with just 6 goals, he does always seem to cause Forest problems & it was only the bravery of Lee Camp that prevented him adding to that at The City Ground earlier this season.

Wes Morgan was taken off as a precaution on Tuesday evening after taking a knock & may not be risked in a game where tackles will be fierce & hard so Luke Chambers could step in to deputise. Shorey's loan spell has yet to be prolonged and unless something is organised before Friday lunch time the left back slot will probably stay with James Perch after he acquitted himself well there against QPR.

This lad looks better & better with every game, He obviously scored a cracker in the last derby game & has added a few more since then but his creativity and vision set him apart in this league, with the little Pole pulling the strings, you know chances will come.

In the 75 previous local derbies between these two teams in league competition, Forest lead the way with 31 wins compared to Derby's 25 (19 draws). It's quite close on the goal scoring front with just 7 goals separating the team, from the 235 goals scored in all previous league fixtures, Forest have bagged 121 of them.

Obviously Forest are on an unbeaten run stretching back 19 league games & remain unbeaten away from home in the league since way back in March 2009, it's remembering though, that the last team to score more than once against Forest was in fact Derby, now that may have been way back in August & it may have been from two deflected goals, but it's worth remind ourselves of this, just to keep us on our toes.

Neil Swarbrick of Lancashire who last took charge of Forest in their 0 - 1 away win at Reading Philip Dermott of Cheshire and Jason Tyas of W. Yorkshire will be his assistant & 4th Official for the day will be David Benton of S. Yorkshire

If you're honest with yourself, you know you should be predicting a thumping Forest win for this game, no doubt though we'll face a Derby side with more fight than they usually show & because of that I'm going to stick with just a comfortable 0 - 2 away win for the reds.

Saturday, 6 February 15:00
The Football League Championship
Nottm Forest v Sheff Wed

Cant believe i got through all that without mentioning Nathan Tyson and his flag once


oh bugger.......

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