Derby County manager Gary Rowett says he will be concentrating fully on what his side need to do in today's crucial encounter with Nottingham Forest, reports the Derby Telegraph.

The Rams will go into the game as favourites on the back of an excellent home record under Rowett, who has seen his side lose only once in eight outings at their home ground.

However, today is a different sort of game, where passions and tensions will be high and Rams fans will be begging for a positive result and ultimately, bragging rights. However, Rowett was as calm as ever when discussing the game, and said he will set his team up as he sees fit to win the game:

"I plan to play a game that suits us," he said. "Like any game at home, we'll go out there to impose our game on the opposition.

"We know Mark's teams like to pass the ball. It will be a case of trying to stop them creating chances, because passing the ball is not the thing that will cause you problems - it's creating opportunities on goal. So it's about us imposing ourselves on them. I'm not really going to go into details about how we're going to do it."

Derby have made an inconsistent start to the Championship season, much like their counterparts Forest, who come into the game off the back of a win over high flying Sheffield United last time out at the City Ground.

The game is bound to be a tense affair, but Rowett seems confident his team can get the job done.

"I'm not going to worry too much about what other teams do, I'm going to worry about how we're going to do our job at home, where we've lost one game in eight since we've been here." Rowett added.

The Verdict

It's sure to be an intriguing game in Derby this afternoon, and it is true the Rams are probably slight favourites.

However, Forest will come knowing full well a win would mean the world to their fans, as well as giving the club two wins on the bounce and some momentum. It's certainly going to be an interesting day!

Derby fans, how do you see your team setting up? Let us know in the comments!