Nottingham Forest legend Garry Birtles has urged Sabri Lamouchi keep faith with the same starting XI that won against Luton Town on Saturday against Derby County this weekend.

Forest have made a strong start to the season under Lamouchi - who replaced Martin O'Neill in charge at the City Ground in the summer.

After missing out on the play-offs last season, the Reds have made a promising start to their new campaign under the Frenchman and are currently fifth in the Championship table - three points outside the automatic promotion places, with a game in hand.

The Reds will be looking to continue their momentum with another three points at the weekend, but they face a tough game against arch-rivals Derby County at the City Ground on Saturday lunchtime.

Forest ended a run of two games without a win against Luton last time out and Birtles has urged Lamouchi to keep faith with the starting XI that won at Kenilworth Road against the Rams on Saturday.

"I’ve always been an advocate of playing your strongest team in any game and that certainly applies this weekend," Birtles told Nottinghamshire Live.

"There’s no doubt that the players which performed so well at Luton should be given the chance to go and replicate that on Saturday.

"Only change a winning team if you really have to, and unless something has happened in training this week that we’re yet to hear about, or you’re looking to negate the threats of the opposition, so in this case, I hope the manager keeps faith with the same starting XI.

"Keep the best side that you think are capable of going and winning that football match, it’s plain and simple. The confidence will be flowing in that eleven after winning away from home, and that should be enough to carry them forward into the derby."

Forest beat Debry 3-0 in the Carabao Cup at the City Ground at the end of August and will be hoping for a similar result at the weekend.

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The Verdict

I agree with Birtles here. Lamouchi has been criticised by some Forest fans for experimenting with his starting line-up in recent weeks, but he needs to make sure he gets his selection right against Derby.

Forest need a win at the weekend to keep chase with the rest of the promotion hopefuls, but it'll be a tough game for them - against a Derby side who will feel they have a point to prove after a slow start to the season under Phillip Cocu.

The Reds cannot afford to take anything for granted and Lamouchi should name the team which has the best chance of winning and that is the side that won against Luton last weekend, as they will be full of confidence going into the game.