Football League World's George Harbey will be live at the City Ground tonight as Nottingham Forest prepare to take on Derby County in the Sky Bet Championship.

It has been a disappointing start to the season for these bitter rivals, who will both go head-to-head for the Brian Clough Trophy on Trentside tonight.

Derby have endured a dismal beginning to the campaign, losing five of their opening six games in the Championship with the pressure beginning to build on manager Phillip Cocu.

The Rams - who lost 1-0 to Huddersfield Town at the John Smith's Stadium in midweek - have only managed to record one league win thus far, as they prepare to come up against their arch rivals.

Quiz: Do Nottingham Forest and Derby County have these 10 things in common?

 

Forest have also endured a tricky start to the season, but have began to pick up under new manager Chris Hughton, who replaced Sabri Lamouchi at the helm over a fortnight ago.

The Reds have gone unbeaten in Hughton's first two games in charge, but will be keen to return to winning ways after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Rotherham United on Tuesday night.

After three games in the space of six days for Forest, Hughton is likely to name changes to the side that were left frustrated against the Millers, with Loic Mbe Soh expected to come in for Tobias Figueiredo.

Harry Arter is also likely to come in for Jack Colback in the middle of the park, with Joe Worrall and Fouad Bachirou both long-term absentees for Hughton's side.

Derby have been handed a couple of injury boosts heading into this clash, with Martyn Waghorn and Tom Lawrence both likely to start following spells on the sidelines.

The Rams will be without Jordon Ibe and Krystian Bielik, with both players set to build up their fitness in an Under-23s fixture this afternoon. Wayne Rooney will also be unavailable as he continues to self-isolate.

Scoring goals has been a problem for both of these sides this season, particularly for Derby, who have only managed to find the net twice in the Championship.

Wayne Rooney and Jack Marriott are the only players to have scored this season, but with the latter being sent on loan to Sheffield Wednesday on deadline day, goals may be an issue for Cocu's men.

Forest, on the other hand, wasted glorious opportunities against Rotherham, and Lewis Grabban, who is expected to keep his place in the side, will be desperate to get off the mark for the season.

Forest go into this one as favourites given their recent rejuvenation under Hughton, but with Cocu skating on thin ice, he will be desperate to see his side pick up a win and claim bragging rights over the Reds.