Back in Business

After the loss to Forest it was a case of returning to form on Saturday against a lacklustre Cardiff City. 

The game was hardly a great spectacle, but in a results business the goal was achieved. Derby dominated possession from start to finish and were worthy winners of a game that our visitors barely created any chances. Carson was called into action once to pull off a save from their onlyreal attempt no duly obliged. 

Our defence overall looked very assured, midfield back to wining the ball and our forwards looking the more likely to break the deadlock. 

George Thorne looked back to his best after two sub par performances in his last two games. In fact he looked a class act. 

The biggest shoutout for me must go to Stephen Warnock who has arguably been out best player in our last two fixtures. 

Our next game sees a Friday night trip to the KC Stadium to face promotion rivals Hull City. Not any easy looking fixture, but we must go there with the attitude that we can win. A point wouldn't be a disaster, but we need to start flexing those automatic promotion muscles! Three points on Friday would be a clear sign that we are ready to do that. 

We go to Hull without Bradley Johnson who is suspended. An ideal opportunity for either Jeff Hendrick or Craig Bryson to stake a claim for a regular start. 

Huff and Puff

Well for a second East Midlands Derby in a row, disappointment for Derby. 

We huffed and puffed and failed to blow the house in. 

Forest to their credit got their tactics spot on. We ran at them, but they always managed to cut out any threatening balls. 

De Vries had one real save to make and it didn't exactly stretch him, Hendrick hit the bar and that was about it. 

Sure we saw more of the ball, but we didn't use it well in the final third of the field. 

Forest dominated midfield. Vaughan and Lansbury ran the show. Their defence was organised. Their only real weakness was in front of goal. 

Mendes missed a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 in the second half when he allowed Warnock to put in a tackle from point blank range. 

Our rivals had already had one goal ruled out that on another day may have been given. 

The last meetings between us have proved that the old saying 'Form hoes out of the window' in these games and how right it is!

The Big Match Tonight!

The latest instalment in the Brian Clough Trophy takes place tonight at the City Ground at 7.30. 

On paper it should be a win for Derby, but matches are won on the green stuff and not on a clipboard. 

We go into the game on a good run of form, however we did last season when our red neighbours created an upset. 

Make no mistake we need to start in top gear and show our intent early. Our hosts may be struggling, but they will be pumped up more than ever for tonight's clash. 

It's hard to predict what team they are going to put out so I will guess that they will play a 4-2-3-1 formation. 

They have a good experienced keeper in Dorus De Vries and their back four includes Eric Lichaj who is a good right back. 

Two out of Matt Mills, Jack Hobbs and Kelvin Wilson will take the centre back roles and that is where I see their main weakness. Hobbs isn't having his best season and Mills can be forced into errors too. 

We will start with Christie at Right Back, and a centre half pairing of Richard Keogh and Jason Shackell. All three have impressed so far this season. 

The season ending injury to Craig Forsyth means that Stephen Warnock will get a chance at Left Back. No disrespect meant, but he doesn't offer the same threat going forward. Forsyth had been linking well with Russell. 

Midfield will be an important battle and one decision Paul Clement will have to make is whether he starts Jeff Hendrick or Jacob Butterfield. The latter is now starting to show some form and it would perhaps be harsh to omit him from the starting line up. 

George Thorne is available after his one match ban and Bradley Johnson could be a key player tonight. 

Lansbury, Ward, Mendes are amongst those expected to feature in the Forest midfield. Ward making his first appearance in a red shirt for this fixture. Lansbury can be a match winner or indeed a liability at times with his indiscipline. 

One question being asked by many is which two from Andreas Weimann, Tom Ince and Johnny Russell do we start. I have changed my mind many times. 

Let's consider the fact that Weimann has scored two in two and plays better on the left. Ince will be fired up to play after an unhappy loan spell with them last season plays on the right. Russell is more suited to the left. I'm gonna stick my neck out and say Weimann and Ince will get the nod. 

Chris Martin is overdue a goal in this fixture and you wouldn't bet against him ending his drought tonight. His hold up play could also be vital. 

Our rivals are struggling to score and their main options appear to be Chris O'Grady, Dexter Blackstock, Tyler Walker and Liam Trotter although the latter is really a midfielder. 

So there we have it! The biggest game in the East Midlands 2015/16 part one kicks off in a few hours. I'd take a scrappy 1-0 win. Thrashing are rare in this fixture.