Nottingham Forest have opened up a one-point gap at the top of the Championship table after they drew 1-1 with Derby County.
After the first 70 minutes brought nothing in the way of goals, Britt Assombalonga gave Forest the lead when he turned sharply inside the penalty area before driving the ball past Lee Grant.
However, Derby equalised eight minutes later after Ryan Shotton prodded home from close range and despite having Jake Buxton sent off in the closing stages, the Rams held on for a well-deserved point.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at the City Ground.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Championship encounter between Nottingham Forest and Derby County.
We are just a month into the season but already, plenty of rivals are renewing hostilities at the start of the race for promotion from the Championship. It's the turn of East Midlands pair Nottingham Forest and Derby County to square off this afternoon, and if history is anything to go by, it should make for a highly-competitive encounter.
Without further ado, let's crack on with the team news. Full details are coming right up.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST XI: Darlow; Hunt, Hobbs, Mancienne, Lichaj; Antonio, Cohen, Reid, Burke; Lansbury; Assombalonga
NOTTINGHAM FOREST SUBSTITUTES: De Vries, Wilson, Fox, Veldwijk, Paterson, Tesche, Osborn
DERBY COUNTY XI: Grant, Forsyth, Bryson, Buxton, Keogh, Shotton, Dawkins, Hughes Russell, Eustace, Martin
DERBY COUNTY SUBSTITUTES: Christie, Whitbread, Roos, Calero, Best, Mascarell, Ibe
Forest boss Stuart Pearce has retained the same starting lineup that won at Sheffield Wednesday last time out. As for Derby, Steve McClaren is without Jeff Hendrick and Jamie Ward, who was injured on international duty with Northern Ireland, but Ryan Shotton and Simon Dawkins have been drafted into the first XI.
We have still got 15 minutes to go until kickoff at the City Ground so why not take the chance to have a look at our 'On The Sofa' preview of the game at the City Ground.
PREDICTION! As with any local rivalry, any result is possible, and while Nottingham Forest are the favourites, the Derby players will relish the opportunity to inflict a first defeat on their bitter rivals. Expect a few tackles to fly in early but when the match has settled down, Forest could just have enough to edge out the Rams in the final quarter of the contest. Forest 2-1.
The atmosphere is quickly building at the City Ground. There's a real sense of anticipation ahead of this fixture. Forest have been superb so far this season, but a victory for Derby would take them to within two points of the current league leaders.
There's a few nervous faces in the tunnel, but that's to be expected in a match like this. This match means a lot to all involved. The two teams have made their way onto the pitch and we will be underway shortly.
Forest start the game in front of a full house at the City Ground.
SHOT! It's a fast start from the home side who immediately find Henri Lansbury in space, but the former Arsenal midfielder can't get enough power in his shot to trouble Lee Grant.
That challenge from Will Davies isn't going to help cooling the tension on the pitch! The England Under-21 international chopped down Andy Reid, but the referee decided to keep his cards in his pocket.
Forest win a free kick around 30 yards from goal but his effort is deflected wide for a corner. The following set piece comes to nothing too, with both sets of players seemingly more interested in pulling each other's shirt.
BOOKING! It hasn't taken long. John Eustace is the first man into the book after a studs-up challenge in the centre of the pitch. It's easy to see why the referee handed him a yellow card but he looks to have taken the ball.
Derby haven't had a chance to show much in Forest's final third but a swift move sees them earn a corner. It's a shocking ball into to the box from John Eustace but Will Hughes manages to win a free kick on the edge of the box.
CLOSE! Johnny Russell is the man standing over the ball and he curls a precise attempt over the Forest wall that has Karl Darlow scrambling across his goal, but the ball drifts a couple of yards wide of the post.
It's been an entertaining start at the City Ground but I think the players might struggle to keep this pace up for the 90 minutes. It's been high-tempo stuff. Forest are shading it so far, but Derby have come back into it in the last few minutes.
INJURY! This doesn't look good at all for Chris Cohen. He's had problems with injuries in the past and this looks a bad one. The midfielder was attempting to intercept a pass but before he could make contact with the ball, his body twisted sharply, leaving Cohen to fall to the deck clutching his left leg. He is to be replaced by Robert Tesche.
That break in play gave the teams to have a quick breather and immediately after the restart, Forest won a free kick on the left flank. It was a decent delivery into the box from Henri Lansbury, but Lee Grant does well to claim the ball low down in the six-yard area.
Derby's Simon Dawkins has been drafted into the side today in place of Jamie Ward, and he's had a fine start to the game. Ward is known for his direct running towards the opposition's defence and Dawkins is doing an effective job in replicating that.
Nottingham Forest are winning plenty of set pieces around the Derby penalty area, but can they make this one count? Andy Reid is standing over the ball. His shot takes a number of deflections before rebounding out for a corner, which eventually comes to nothing.
For the first time in this match, we are experiencing a lull in terms of attacking play, but both teams are having spells on the ball as they attempt to seize the initiative in the final 20 minutes of the first half.
The pace of Michail Antonio is frightening. Ryan Shotton is no slouch and he is being made to look foolish by the left winger. Shotton scythed down the former Sheffield Wednesday player on the byline but he avoids a yellow card on this occasion.
While the Derby defence is being put under pressure, they deserve plenty of credit for how they are preventing Forest from forcing any kind of save out of Lee Grant.
Derby win another free kick in a threatening position. It's a similar range to that of the one Johnny Russell sent wide earlier in the match. This effort from Craig Bryson found the target, but it was straight at Karl Darlow.
BOOKING! Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid has been given a yellow card, and he doesn't seem to know why. Neither do we!
CHANCE! Some good build-up play on the right from Derby ends with Ryan Shotton drilling a ball into the penalty area for Johnny Russell but the midfielder's header is deflected wide for a corner.
INJURY! We haven't reached half time and Nottingham Forest are being forced to make their second change of the match. Andy Reid is the man who is down with what looks to be a groin injury, and Ben Osborn has replaced him in midfield.
CHANCE! Britt Assombalonga has been quiet in front of goal this afternoon but he should have given his side the lead in the final minute of this first half. A free kick from Henri Lansbury found the head of the striker, but he could only direct the ball over the crossbar from six yards.
CLOSE! Nottingham Forest are ending this half on the front foot and two minutes into added-on time, Robert Tesche has fired a 30-yard strike just inches wide of Lee Grant's post.
HALF TIME: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Derby County
The half-time whistle goes at the City Ground and we remain goalless after the first 45 minutes. Despite the lack of goals and shots on target, it's been an excellent match between two evenly-matched teams. More of the same for the second half please!
There were 13 shots on goal during that opening 45 minutes, but only one effort - Craig Bryson's tame free kick - hit the target. Both teams have had three corners apiece, but it's Forest who had shaded possession with 54% of the ball.
After the injuries to Chris Cohen and Andy Reid, Forest boss Stuart Pearce is limited to just one more alteration and he's likely to save that until late in the game. His opposite number Steve McClaren is well stocked on the bench, and although he will be happy with his team's performance, he may choose to introduce fresh legs sooner rather than later.
Derby get the game restarted at the City Ground.
BOOKING! That's crude from Ben Osborn, who cynically takes out Will Davies on the edge of the penalty area. Chris Martin takes responsibility for the kick but it clears the crossbar by at least 10 yards. It wasn't one of his better efforts.
Derby have started this second half well, and the Forest supporters are already beginning to voice their frustrations. They need to take advantage though, because in front of their home fans, you'd expect Forest to end strongly.
That's a bit better from Forest as Eric Lichaj whips an inswinging cross into the middle but the ball just evades Henri Lansbury at the back post and it rolls out for a goal kick.
CHANCE! It hasn't been Chris Martin's day. The striker, who has just penned a four-year deal with the Rams, was given the ball inside the area, but like with his free kick, he blazed his effort high into the stands.
BOOKING! Jake Buxton is the next man to go into the book after he barged into Henri Lansbury, who was far too quick for the centre-back. The cautions are definitely being racked up now.
BOOKING! Ouch! Henri Lansbury is looking to remain on the pitch after sliding his studs down the shin of Will Hughes. It's difficult to say if there was any intent, but red cards have been handed out for less.
SHOT! Michail Antonio has been quiet in the first 15 minutes of the second half but he bursts into life to beat Ryan Shotton and Johnny Russell before driving the ball at goal from 25 yards that drew a save out of Lee Grant.
We have several pitch invaders on the pitch. It's quite surreal because not a lot is being done to remove them. The initial invader was joined by two others, but let's hope for no more. We've had at least a two-minute stoppage in play.
We are still waiting for the game to get back underway. One of the Derby pitch invaders has been detained by four or five stewards, but for whatever reason, it has taken an age for them to remove him from the playing area. While we wait, Leon Best has been thrown on for Derby.
We are back underway, finally! There are 20 minutes remaining in this match but we are going to have plenty of added-on time.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-0 Derby County (Assombalonga)
Forest have the lead! It's a terrific goal too. Michail Antonio stormed forward towards the penalty area, leaving the Derby midfielders in his wake, before playing the ball across the edge of the 18-yard box to Britt Assombalonga, who turned sharply before firing a shot past Lee Grant from 16 yards.
CHANCE! That should be game, set and match for Forest. Jack Hunt delivered a stunning cross from the right for Assombalonga, but he directed his free header wide of the far post from eight yards. What a chance.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Steve McClaren isn't hanging about with his final two changes. John Eustace and Craig Bryson have left the action with Ivan Calero and Jordan Ibe coming on in their place.
Despite their slender advantage, Forest are continuing to push for a second, but after a move breaks down, Derby counter in numbers and Karl Darlow is forced into a timely block to deny Leon Best from an acute angle.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-1 Derby County (Shotton)
Now we have a game on! Derby equalise at the City Ground and they deserve it for their performance in the second half. After Chris Burke was booked after conceding a free kick on the left, the set piece was headed onto the crossbar by Richard Keogh before Ryan Shotton scopped the rebound over the line. Leon Best made sure by smashing the ball into the corner, but it will go down as Shotton's goal.
That goal has taken the wind out of Nottingham Forest's sails. Things are worse for the home side after Britt Assombalonga is winded after a heavy fall to the ground but he is back on his feet.
RED CARD! Jake Buxton has been given his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card for delaying the taking of a free kick. That wasn't clever, and it could prove costly for his side.
CHANCE! After the free kick came to nothing, Derby make ground up the pitch but after the ball found the feet of Craig Forsyth, he could only fire a weak shot at Karl Darlow.
SUBSTITUTION! This is a strange one. Lars Veldwijk has been thrown on in place of earlier substitute Ben Osborn. There is no injury involved either. There will be eight minutes of added-on time.
Forest are beginning to pile the pressure on but after a spell playing the ball in and around the penalty area, they waste the resulting chance as Robert Tesche blazes high over the crossbar.
It's all Forest, but they aren't creating anything significant when the ball enters the penalty area. Two minutes remaining.
CHANCE! Nottingham Forest earn a last-gasp corner but despite the ball finding Britt Assombalonga, he can only head straight at Lee Grant. That will be that.
FULL TIME: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Derby County
After a pulsating game that lasted a total of 102 minutes, we end on level terms as Nottingham Forest open up a one-point gap at the top of the table. On reflection, it was a fair result. Nottingham Forest had the better of possession and shots on goal, but Derby matched them all the way and were well worth a point.
That will be all from Sports Mole from this match, but we hope you stick around for all of the reaction from the City Ground. There's also the chance to keep track of Manchester United's Premier League clash with Queens Park Rangers. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
