Clough sets his sights on memorable double
DERBY County manager Nigel Clough is fully focused on completing the double over Nottingham Forest tomorrow but admits he takes no pleasure in seeing the Reds struggling in the Championship's relegation zone.
Clough made more than 400 appearances for Forest as a player and he is the second highest scorer in the club's history with 131 goals.
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Nigel Clough
His father, Brian, managed Forest for 18 years and guided them to a League Championship success and two European Cup triumphs.
Derby and Forest meet in the latest East Midlands clash at Pride Park Stadium (kick off 12.15pm), with the Rams having already beaten their fierce rivals earlier in the season.
All the efforts of Clough, his staff and the Derby players are now centred on taking another three points from Forest and keeping Derby in the top half of the table.
But on Forest's plight, Clough said: "We understand the rivalry with supporters, where you wish your local rivals certainly no goodwill – but I don't wish them any ill will either.
"In an ideal world, we would both be up there going for promotion. That would be good for the East Midlands.
"It's nice when we are all together in the Championship but it would be nice if we were in the league above as well and I think all three clubs (Derby, Forest and Leicester City) can still achieve that in the future.
"If we are not in the same league, we don't have these games which everybody looks forward to.
"So we would miss that, certainly."
Forest have changed their manager since Derby beat them 2-1 at the City Ground in September.
Steve Cotterill replaced Steve McClaren in October and won four of his first six matches in charge but a run of one win in 11 League games has seen them drop into the bottom three.
"Steve has inherited a very, very difficult situation at Forest," said Clough.
"I am surprised to see them in the position they are in.
"When you look at the squad on paper, especially the choice of strikers, they have still got some decent players but we know from our own experience in the last two or three seasons how hard it can be to reverse a losing run.
"Steve has not had too much leeway to bring players in but I still think they will have enough to survive this season.
"I think I feel most sorry for Mr Doughty (Forest owner Nigel Doughty) who has pumped an incredible amount of money in there in the last 10 years and he now sees his club in that position.
"I feel a lot of sympathy for him."
4 Comments
by steve1961ram
Saturday, February 04 2012, 5:29PM
“just like to say thanks for that offer` Ibelieveido`,it was a nice thought,if i wasn`t work committed,the weather a bit iffy and it was saturday i would have snapped your hand off wether it was cheaper or not,money doesn`t matter in such a big game,its nice to know theres a possible ticket option through you if im ever stuck in future,i spent hour upon hour trying to get a server on the Net and also a blocked phoneline when we beat baggies 1-0 in play off final,and there was loads of space where the prawn sandwich brigade sit,cheers again.
onto game lets hope we stick it right up their tree stumps, be nice to play good passing football and be very entertaining but i would take a 1-0 win wether it comes off someones backside,a twice taken penalty ,own goal or a nailed on offside goal that runs for us,i dont care as a win is a win.SSA toyota popside.”
by northwestram
Saturday, February 04 2012, 11:02AM
“Great post ramATREE COME ON U RAMS”
by ibelieveido
Saturday, February 04 2012, 9:10AM
“No doubt in MOST peoples minds where N.C'S loyalty lies,
he is talking about long term and the fact its best to have
both teams in the same div...
His and the teams minds will be Totally on beating Florist tomorrow.
No bout adout it.”
by ramATREE
Saturday, February 04 2012, 8:55AM
“n.c.lets not feel sorry for anyone including florist if your head was on chopping block
im sure they would not be feeling sorry for you, and as a derby fan speaking like
that puts doubts in our minds about you lets get out there and kick some ass on
sunday.and its about time tyson comes up with the goods after all the wages he,s picked
up,hard earn,t derdy money, im sure your old man never felt anything when he kicked ass
back at his old clubs, and we all no he would never of gone to florist if the board would of
backed him ,don,t let history repeat its self, stand up to the yanks get some
money of them ,buy the players we need and let,s move on to where we belong
and kick some real ass the RAMS”