Nottingham Forest v Derby: Sky Bet Championship betting preview, free tip & TV

Football tips, best bets and predictions for Nottingham Forest v Derby County in the Sky Bet Championship.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football and Main Event, 12.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Nottingham Forest
2pts 6-5 bet365, Betfred

Back this tip with bet365

Team news

Nottingham Forest
Michael Dawson (calf) returns to the squad but Carl Jenkinson (ankle), Samba Sow (hamstring) and Alfa Semedo (back) are unavailable. Tendayi Darikwa (knee) and Yohan Benalouane (hip) are long-term absentees.

Derby
Krystian Bielik has recovered from a knock but Scott Malone (knee) has joined Tom Huddlestone, Craig Forsyth (both knee) and Ikechi Anya (ankle) on the sidelines.

Match preview

Derby have not registered an away victory over Nottingham Forest in the last seven attempts and their poor recent record at the City Ground could be extended by a defeat this weekend.

The Sky Bet Championship is extremely tight with fifth-placed Forest just four points superior to 15th-placed County.

However, the Tricky Trees have been in the top ten since August and have scope to improve because they have played just six home matches - the fewest in the division - and have a game in hand on every team bar Reading.

Sabri Lamouchi would admit that his team are far from the finished article but he has established a solid rearguard - Forest have the third best defensive record in the division. They possess match-winners in attack with centre-forward Lewis Grabban contributing six goals and Joe Lolley and Sammy Ameobi providing moments of quality off the flanks.

Forest look like a team with room to grow but Derby, who have not registered back-to-back wins all season, cannot find any consistency.

The Rams have not won on their league travels since a 2-1 success at Huddersfield on the opening weekend and they may suffer a second away loss of the campaign to Forest, who defeated them 3-0 in the EFL Cup second round.

Key stat

Derby have not won any of their last seven away fixtures.

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