Like all Nottingham Forest fans, I can’t wait for Saturday and the chance to really kick Derby County while they’re down.
It’s been a pretty torrid few weeks for the Rams, with their form on the road hardly pulling up any trees, a car crash involving some of their players and now sacking club captain Richard Keogh.
In amongst all of that they were hammered at the City Ground in the Carabao Cup, which didn’t do the new manager any favours, while certainly endearing Sabri Lamouchi to the Forest faithful early into his tenure.
No doubt the starting XI selected by both managers this weekend will be a little different to the ones we saw in August – however, that 3-0 result will still give Forest confidence and rightly so.
They know that they’re a better side than Derby, the league table does not lie nor does recent form.
If Sabri Lamouchi’s men turn up, deliver a performance of quality and resolve then they’ll add another three points to their tally which would take them level on points with the automatic places – a fairly good carrot if another one was needed.
Forest will also be desperate to get another home win after what happened against Hull so that will give them a little added incentive, along with wanting to keep the Brian Clough Trophy in their grasp.
Make no mistake about it, though, the Reds and their fans will likely need to be patient.
You’d expect Phillip Cocu will want to make them tough to beat, get them sitting back and playing on the counter, a bit like Lamouchi has Forest playing away from home to great effect.
He won’t want to be too expansive given what happened at the City Ground a few weeks ago, and when you factor in their hapless away form, you’d fancy him wanting to be tight and try and get something on the break or from a set play.
I hope Sabri Lamouchi keeps faith with the side which played so well at Luton – it will be a game where Forest need to see plenty from their attacking players.
Sammy Ameobi, Joe Lolley, Tiago Silva and Lewis Grabban will have to be at their potent best to find those pockets of space which the Rams will try and limit – they’re more than good enough to do just that.
We can’t take it for granted that Forest will win because you know how important these games are to both sides, but I am confident of a 2-0 victory which will send us into the latest break in good heart.
I can’t sign off this week without mentioning Richard Keogh, who won’t feature at the City Ground.
Given Mason Bennett and Tom Lawrence's role in the A6 smash, it was a surprise to see him lose his job and the other two continue to play despite being convicted in the courts.
After all, it was those two convicted not Keogh, he was the passenger.
Yes, he was the captain and most experienced player there but I still feel like he’s been harshly treated, he deserved better by a club he’s represented well.
If nothing else, the whole sorry saga has been an absolute PR disaster for the Rams and one they could have well done without.
Fingers crossed Forest will show no mercy on Saturday and add to their list of woes.
Kenny Burns was this week in conversation with Barry Cooper
