The Rams have relieved the former England boss of his duties for the second time.
Derby manager Steve McClaren
Even despite a humiliating trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, which saw Derby County lose 3-0 without mustering a shot on target, you still feel that the Rams would have gone into Saturday’s East Midlands derby against Nottingham Forest as favourites.
While Steve McClaren may now have been given the axe by Derby chairman Mel Morris for a second time, following a run of one league win in nine matches, even if he was still in the dugout, many would have tipped the Rams for victory.
Derby go into Saturday’s fixture with no additional pressure knowing that their season is effectively over, while there’s absolutely no chance Forest can end the Rams’ play-off hopes as they’ve already gone.
With nine games to go, the Rams are 10 points off the play-offs, and the law of averages state their shambolic run will have to end somewhere.
Derby’s Alex Pearce and Richard Keogh look dejected
Out of form sides frequently turn it around on derby day, so a win at The City Ground would not only delight supporters, but send Forest further into the relegation mix.
Derby have so much less to lose than Forest do, and while McClaren won’t return to his former club to oversee the fixture, a combination of these factors and the inevitable new manager bounce should see the Rams depart Nottingham with all three points.
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