Derby County welcome Nottingham Forest to Pride Park on Monday for the first East Midlands derby of the Championship season.
The first East Midlands derby clash of the season will take on extra significance on Monday night.
For the first time in years, both Derby County and Nottingham Forest are harbouring genuine promotion ambitions after all. With 21 games played, Frank Lampard’s Rams are fourth in the table, just three places and three points above their neighbours from 20 miles down the road.
While Derby reached the play-off semi finals last season, losing over two legs to Fulham, Forest are a team transformed after years of underachievement.
Aitor Karanka’s side spent around £25 million on new players in the summer while the likes of Lewis Grabban, Joao Carvalho and the electrifying Joe Lolley have turned the former European Champions into genuine promotion contenders.
And, speaking to the Derby Telegraph, Rams goalkeeper Scott Carson has admitted that Forest are a much improved team ahead of what is likely to be a massive clash at Pride Park.
“We’ve all seen them on telly. They’re a really good, improved side this season, so we’ll need to be at our best,” Carson said.
“Obviously, it’s never easy in a derby and this is going to be a really tough game.”
A win for Forest will lift Karanka’s side above Derby in the table by virtue of a superior goal difference and Carson can expect to be a busy man with Grabban, Lolley and co heading to Pride Park in top form.
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