Miles on clock in Forest’s favour
FORMER Nottingham Forest forward Garry Birtles has been comparing the strengths of his former club and Derby County.
Derby go into the fixture three points ahead of Forest.
So far this season, Derby have scored 31 goals in their 21 League fixtures, while Forest have found the net 32 times.
Goals conceded by both teams are also pretty close, with Derby conceding 24 and Forest 22.
Ahead of the match, Birtles has singled out a couple of Derby players who could pose a threat to Forest, including the Rams’ ‘danger man’.
“When you look at Forest, you clearly have a natural goalscorer in Lewis Grabban,” Birtles told Nottinghamshire Live. “He’s not the only attacking threat, though.
“Joe Lolley is having a brilliant season, Matty Cash is coming on leaps and bounds and Joao Carvalho is obviously a class act.
“On the other side, Mason Mount is a very talented young man - he must be to be called into the England squad.
“Harry Wilson is another excellent prospect who is in fine form. He’s a real danger man.
“There are areas where Forest have the edge, most notably when it comes to experience. You have people like Grabban, Costel Pantilimon, Jack Colback, Adlene Guedioura and Claudio Yacob players who have been around the block.
“Derby have experience too with Scott Carson and Richard Keogh but they’re a younger side that mirrors their manager Frank Lampard, who is in his first job.
“They’re vibrant and attacking but they don’t have as many miles on the clock.
“Does that mean one or two of them will freeze on the night? Or does it mean they play without fear? It will be interesting to see.”