[long_read]

Monday night sees the big East Midlands derby game take place as Nottingham Forest take on Frank Lampard's Derby County in a crunch Championship fixture.

Both sides sit just outside the play-off places at the moment, and the Rams will make the short trip to the City Ground hoping to put a miserable 1-0 loss to Millwall behind them.

It's always a big occasion this game, and over the years we have seen some fine moments at both stadiums with some memorable goals and controversial situations often leaving pundits and fans alike with plenty to stew over post-match.

The game on Monday could give Derby the chance to jump back into the top six depending on Bristol City's result at the weekend, while Forest can close the gap themselves, although they know a loss could well mean curtains for any potential late play-off run.

We at FLW are looking forward to the game immensely, and we think there could well be plenty of talking points come Monday night.

With that, we've looked at THREE things we expect to see in the Nottingham Forest and Derby County match on Monday evening...

[snack_break title="A red card"]

Soccer Football - Championship - Norwich City v Nottingham Forest - Carrow Road, Norwich, Britain - December 26, 2018 Nottingham Forest's Matthew Cash celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images/Alan Walter EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account repres
Soccer Football - Championship - Norwich City v Nottingham Forest - Carrow Road, Norwich, Britain - December 26, 2018 Nottingham Forest's Matthew Cash celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images/Alan Walter EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

If one thing is usually a given in local derby's, it's heated tackles and a high tempo fuelled by a passionate crowd desperate to see their side take the win.

With that, usually comes plenty of bookings, and it would not be a surprise to see a red card this Monday.

Forest and Derby simply don't like each other, and with passions high and the likes of Roy Keane in the dugout, a player or manager being given his marching orders is not out of the question.

[snack_break title="A tight affair"]

Given the importance of the game and added pressure of the top six being on the line, it could well be a tight game at the City Ground.

Both teams will not want to lose, and the thought of giving up bragging rights as well as a play-off place might well be too much.

0-0 is not off the cards, while a goal either way will probably be enough to settle it.

[snack_break title="Forest to finally get the win"]

Forest's last win over the Rams seems all too long ago for many Reds fans, when a 1-0 win back in 2015 saw them take the bragging rights.

Since then, three defeats and three draws have done little to give the Reds fans confidence.

However, under O'Neill, they should be well up for this one, and with home advantage, it would well be Forest's time.

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