Nottingham Forest vs Derby: Betting tips, predictions, odds & match preview
The first East Midlands Derby of the season gets the Championship weekend underway on Friday as Nottingham Forest host fierce rivals Derby.
Nottingham Forest vs Derby: Predictions
The East Midlands Derby, or ‘El Cloughico’ as it is colloquially known among supporters of Nottingham Forest and Derby County is one of the most competitive rivalries in the English game, pitting two of Brian Clough’s former clubs against one another for the aptly named Brian Clough Trophy.
The current holders of the silverware are Forest, who went unbeaten against Derby last season, winning this exact fixture 1-0 last November, a triumph masterminded by Sabri Lamouchi, who has since left his position in the dugout and been succeeded by Chris Hughton.
Having lost their opening four games in the Championship, Lamouchi was given his marching orders. However, under Hughton they have made immediate progress, beating Blackburn and drawing with Rotherham to get their first points on the board.
Phillip Cocu is also having a rough season at Pride Park. Having recently come up short against Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, the Rams are in a perilous state already, with five losses from their opening six games. This latest East Midlands Derby will therefore see the club in 20th come up against the club in 21st, in a match that already has wider repercussions than bragging rights alone.
Nottingham Forest vs Derby: Betting Tips
- Both teams to score in the second half @3/1 with Sky Bet
- Lewis Grabban to score anytime @3/2 with Sky Bet
Odds correct at the time of writing. 18+ Only. Terms and Conditions Apply.
Nottingham Forest vs Derby: Match Stats
With the way both teams have started this season, there are likely to be some early nerves in the opening exchanges, which could lead to a lack of goalmouth activity in the first 45 minutes, but a more adventurous approach after the restart.
Since Hughton took the reins at Forest, his side have sealed a 90th-minute winner against Blackburn and equalised in the last 10 minutes against Rotherham on Tuesday night, while Derby have only scored in the second half this season (both in the 87th minute), with Wayne Rooney’s free-kick against Norwich a particular highlight.
The former England international will be absent for Friday night’s game, but one player who could have a say on the outcome of this fixture is Lewis Grabban. He is yet to open his account for the campaign, but scored the match-winner in this derby last term, and has a record of three goals in his last five games against the Rams.
Nottingham Forest vs Derby: Squawka Says
Scoreline prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Derby
Nottingham Forest vs Derby: Head to Head
04 July 2020 – Derby 1-1 Nottingham Forest – Championship
09 November 2019 – Nottingham Forest 1-0 Derby – Championship
27 August 2019 – Nottingham Forest 3-0 Derby – League Cup
25 February 2019 – Nottingham Forest 1-0 Derby – Championship
17 December 2018 – Derby 0-0 Nottingham Forest – Championship
In recent memory this has not been a high-scoring affair in the Championship. There have only been four goals scored in the last five league meetings, with back-to-back goalless stalemates coming in 2018.
Derby will be hoping to end a run of six games without a win against Forest. Their last triumph over their neighbours came in October 2017, a game in which Matej Vydra and David Nugent settled the tie.
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