Over the years Nottingham Forest and Derby County have thrown up some tremendously entertaining affairs and several heroes have ultimately etched their names into folklore.
Some of the players with cult status have now sailed into relative oblivion, whilst others remain engrained in the memories as genuine stars.
For Forest, Robert Earnshaw, Joe Lolley, Britt Assombalonga and Ben Osborn are names that all supporters will always hold firmly on their tongue.
Zach Clough, Yohan Benalouane, Marcus Tudgay, Jack Hobbs and Dani Pinillos fall into the category of perhaps never scaling heights that their potential suggested, but will ultimately always have derby-day delirium under their belts.
Ahead of Saturday’s reunion with the Rams, it’s already intriguing to try and hazard a guess as to how the game might pan out.
It is true what they say about derby-day contests. Form goes out the window and all that really counts is the 90 minutes of blood, sweat and tears out on the turf left from two teams who are well aware that losing is not an option.
Silverware
These days, a trophy is at stake. Since 2007, Forest and Derby have done battle for the Brian Clough Trophy. The prize currently sits proudly in Forest’s cabinet following back-t0-back victories over their fierce rivals.
It remains to be seen whether or not a new hero will emerge from the Forest ranks this weekend, or whether a usual candidate will emerge as the ultimate matchwinner. Of course, Derby will come to the City Ground with other ideas about both of such theories.
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For 90 minutes on derby-day, it is a feeling like no other. There isn’t any other game on the fixture list that provides such a rollercoaster of emotions.
Losing isn’t an option and when it does occur it is an awful feeling. Bragging rights with the fiercest of rivals until we meet again.
The incentive for Forest going into the latest instalment of the East Midlands derby is clear. Win and the Reds can climb the table further and put the pressure on those kicking off later in the day to catch them again, ahead of another international break.
Incentive
Should the unthinkable happen and Forest lose, the Rams will be a point behind the Reds. Given how the two clubs have faired so far this season that would simply serve to highlight the nature of the Championship beast.
Right now the Rams have won just once on the road this season, yet in claiming win number two on Saturday they could go within a point of a team many outsiders are talking about as potential candidates to slip under the promotion radar.
As with any derby-day game, an hero needs to emerge. Will it be the obvious Lolley, Lewis Grabban or Sammy Ameobi masterclass or will someone take on the mantle of Clough or Pinillos?
Tiago Silva for his first league goal maybe, a towering header from Chema Rodriguez, maybe even a mishit thunderbolt from Yuri Ribeiro.
Whoever it is will know that an important goal on derby-day will ensure that supporters never forget. Ultimately they will always be referred to as a man who put the ball in the Derby net.
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