Nottingham Forest vs Derby County. Sky Bet Championship.
The City GroundAttendance29,421.
Watch live on Sky Sports Football from 7pm on Monday
Monday 25 February 2019 18:47, UK
Ben Watson is expected to be back in the Nottingham Forest squad for their clash with east midlands rivals Derby at the City Ground on Monday, live on Sky Sports Football from 7pm.
The 33-year-old midfielder was rested against Preston after starting four consecutive games following Martin O'Neill's return as manager, ending his exile under previous boss Aitor Karanka.
Watson should be involved again on Monday night, as should Saidy Janko after the right-back was also given a break at Deepdale last weekend. Midfielder Matty Cash continues to struggle with an Achilles injury while defenders Michael Dawson (hamstring) and Tobias Figueiredo (leg) are not expected to be back in contention until next month.
Derby will check on the fitness of Tom Lawrence. The attacking midfielder has missed the last two matches with an ankle injury. Speaking after Wednesday night's home defeat to Millwall, which saw the Rams miss the chance to move back into the play-off places, Derby boss Frank Lampard ruled Mason Mount out of the trip to Forest.
The on-loan Chelsea midfielder has missed the last five games after suffering a hamstring injury at Accrington in the FA Cup and will now not return until March. Scott Carson's thigh injury means Kelle Roos looks likely to continue in goal as Derby look for their first victory at the City Ground since 2012.
Nottingham Forest are winless in six league matches against Derby (D3 L3); they last had a longer run between 1904 and 1914 (eight matches).
The last two Championship encounters between Nottingham Forest and Derby have ended goalless.
Martin O'Neill's last league meetings with Derby County came during the 2007-08 season when he was Aston Villa manager, winning 2-0 and 6-0.
Derby haven't drawn three consecutive away league matches since March 2018, when the third game in that run was a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest.
Nottingham Forest haven't won three consecutive home league matches since a run of four in November 2017.
There has been a red card shown in five of the last seven Championship meetings between Nottingham Forest and Derby at the City Ground (one to Forest, four to Derby).
Nottingham Forest have drawn their last two but points away at West Brom and Preston are not bad results at all, and it seems as though Martin O'Neil is starting to get a real feel for his squad.
Derby have spent most of the season in the top six but they are on the outside looking in now and fans will be starting to worry. The loss at home to Millwall in midweek was very poor but I think Frank Lampard will get stuck into them and get his side a point on Monday night.
David Prutton predicts: 2-2 (12/1 with Sky Bet)
