Simon Cox plays down importance of Forest-Leicester derby

Simon Cox doesn't think that tonight's East Midlands derby against Leicester City could be a deciding factor for Nottingham Forest's promotion hopes.

Forest go into tonight's game 13 points shy of league leaders Leicester but well inside the playoff zone and just six points off the second automatic-promotion place, currently occupied by Burnley.

Although Forest could close to within one win of the top two, Cox feels that putting in a better show after their FA Cup defeat to Sheffield United is more important.

"The most important factor is that we put in a good performance to show we're not too disheartened by Sunday's result," Cox told the club website.

"If we want to catch Leicester we'll have to try and take points off them but I don't think it is a game which will define our season."

Cox has scored in all three games against Leicester since joining Forest, including the reverse fixture in November when Forest inflicted Leicester's only home defeat of the season.