Eng. Championship
2012-03-13 - Derby County vs Nottingham Forest
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Tuesday 13 March 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
Derby County
Unless Derby County have a serious run of form, this team is unlikely to be challenging for a Play Off berth this season, but there is still plenty that will keep the fans entertained when they host one of their biggest rivals in a League game. Nigel Clough has not really progressed Derby as much as he would have wanted, but they are more than safe in the Championship as the project continues.
They bring in a 9-2-7 record at Pride Park into this game, scoring 23 goals and conceding 19, while they know another win here would see them move into the top half of the table. The Rams are 16 points clear of those sides in the relegation zone and they are 11 points behind Cardiff City in the final Play Off berth.
Derby had lost 5 of 6 games in all competitions, but looked like they may have turned a corner with a 2-2 draw at Birmingham City and a 2-1 win over Blackpool, two sides that are well in the mix for promotion this season. However, they were beaten 1-2 by Watford on Saturday which means they have lost 4 of their last 5 games at Pride Park.
Jamie Ward remains absent from the squad, but Gareth Roberts is expected to be available.
Nottingham Forest
While most fans around the country will feel sympathy for the plight of Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest fans may feel that eases some of the pressure on their side which has been struggling at the wrong end of the table all season. I think most would have expected a promotion push for Forest in the Summer, but it has been more than a disappointing season so far.
The team now have a 5 point gap between themselves and Coventry City in 22nd place in the table, but that could be extended with another three points here and begin to ease the fears of relegation. They have a 5-2-9 record away from the City Ground this season, scoring 15 goals but conceding 24.
After a terrible run of form over a period of two/three months, Nottingham Forest may just be picking up form at the right time as they have lost just 1 of their last 5 games, winning 3 of those including an important 3-1 win over Millwall at the weekend. Forest are unbeaten in their last 2 away games after losing 3 consecutive away games before that.
George Elokobi and Paul Anderson are the only doubts for an otherwise fit squad for Forest.
Head to Head
Derby County will be looking to give their fans the satisfaction of completing the double over their local rivals having won 1-2 at the City Ground earlier this season even with ten men.
Nottingham Forest won this corresponding fixture 0-1 last season, but Derby had won 3 of their previous 5 at home against them.
Prediction
This should be a great match for the locals to enjoy, while Derby County will sure get some satisfaction from completing the double over Nottingham Forest and also leaving their rivals still in the mix in the relegation battle.
Forest have definitely been in the better form coming into the game and they will have their backers I'm sure at the prices being offered.
However, Derbies can be tough to predict and the one thing I have noticed is that both teams have been pretty free-scoring in recent weeks, while also struggling to keep clean sheets.
Both teams have been involved in games that have seen a few goals go in- Nottingham Forest and Derby have been averaging just under 3 goals combined in their last 6 games apiece, while 8 of the last 12 games between these rivals has seen at least 3 goals scored.
Therefore, the Overs looks a little overpriced to me as I think one of the teams are likely to win 2-1 and at odds-against, it looks worth chancing.
The Pick :
Derby County 1-2 Nottingham Forest
