Monday evening sees the resumption of one of the EFL’s oldest and more prestigious rivalries.

Derby County travel to their near neighbours Nottingham Forest with three vital points on offer.

The two teams sit side-by-side in the table with the Rams four points better off than their hosts ahead of the clash.

Frank Lampard’s side need a win and a performance to banish the futile efforts they gave in the defeat to Millwall last Wednesday – and know a win could see them hoist themselves back into a play-off place.

Martin O’Neill, meanwhile, is embarking on his first East Midlands derby as Forest boss needing a win to close to gap on their rivals.

The two sides have similar form taking nine points from their last six games, but the Rams have one defeat in their last six.

Forest, however, have three in theirs and have won two in a row.

The game is evenly poised and could well be a firecracker to see this round of games out on Monday night.

And ahead of the game, Sky Sports enlisted the help of footballer-turned-pundit David Prutton to predict the outcome of this particular fixture.

The EFL presenter said: “Nottingham Forest have drawn their last two but points away at West Brom and Preston are not bad results at all, and it seems as though Martin O'Neill is starting to get a real feel for his squad.

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“Derby have spent most of the season in the top six but they are on the outside looking in now, and fans will be starting to worry.

“The loss at home to Millwall in midweek was very poor, but I think Frank Lampard will get stuck into them and get his side a point on Monday night, 2-2.”

The verdict

Three out of the last four meetings between the two sides have been draws with Derby winning back in 2017.

If previous results and current form are to go by, then this match should pan out to be a draw, too.

But the way in which both teams enter this derby is cause for alarm – for Rams supporters.

Form does go out the window in these kinds of games – but one can only imagine the damage the defeat to Millwall has done.

Forest smell blood and I think they will get their first win in this fixture for the first time since 2015 on Monday night.