Rams could push Chris over edge

Championship, Saturday, 12.30pm

BEFORE the season began, Derby were supposed to be the ones in crisis with owner Mel Morris still unable to sell a club that survived relegation to League One by the skin of their teeth and being placed under transfer embargo.

But after a relaxation of the rules meant they were able to bring in five senior players – Sam Baldock and Ravel Morrison among them – boss Wayne Rooney is getting plenty of fighting spirit from a side in which 19-year-old Louie Sibley (pictured) (pictured is the pick of some exciting exci While youngsters. the Rams have tW still st only taken four points from four games, there is cause for fo optimism. That is more m than you can say for their great rivals Nottingham Nottin Forest who have begun with four straight league defeats for the second season in a row. While that spelt the end for Sabri Lamouchi 12 months ago, Chris Hughton is still in the post for now despite returning Forest fans having been vocal in their criticism of the style of play and like-for-like substitutions as much as a run of two wins from their last 18 games.

Forest got in ahead of Rooney to re-sign midfielder James Garner on loan from Manchester United but it is a big ask to expect a 20-yearold, even one so talented, to transform their fortunes overnight.

But a fixture that has led to a host of managerial changes over the years feels very much like last-chance saloon for Hughton.