With both Aston Villa and Sheffield United winning promotion last season, Derby County and Nottingham Forest can now safely count their rivalry as the most high profile in the Football League.

The 105th installment of the heated clash took place on Tuesday night amidst the glitz and glamour of the Carabao Cup second-round, with the teams also competing for Brian Clough Trophy.

It ended up being the most one-sided edition of the rivalry in three years, with Sabri Lamouchi's side completely bossing Phillip Cocu's much-changed unit to earn the bragging rights again.

In fact, the Dutchman made 10 changes to the side that drew with West Brom at the weekend, with a raft of youngsters thrown into the starting line-up.

After the match, Cocu came in for a lot of criticism for this - and understandably so. Derby fans want a manager who is going to take this rivalry as seriously as they do and Cocu clearly did not do this.

However, calls for him to leave are ludicrous, of which there were a fair few.

Of course, there were rational fans who still believe in the long-term plan, but unfortunately they rarely shout as loudly. But the reaction to the defeat does show a tide of initial overwhelming support now turning on Cocu.

However, the one thing needed from the fans right now is patience.

There is a serious problem among the majority of football fans who expect to see immediate results whenever a new manager comes in - especially at sides like Derby for whom promotion has long been the goal.

Even during Daniel Farke's first season at Norwich there were similar cries of disatissfaction. But the Canaries are a prime example of where faith and patience can get you.

When Cocu arrived, he hardly inherited a side ready to challenge for promotion. Quite the contrary.

He was in fact welcomed by a first-team that had been stripped of three of its most influential members from Frank Lampard's previous season; Harry Wilson, Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount.

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Arriving late in the summer, through no fault of his own, and with the transfer window closing early, he did not have long to build his own squad, but did the best he could and will no doubt be planning his January moves already.

Should he have performed better in the opening weeks of the season? Probably. Should he have shown the East Midlands' derby more respect? Definitely.

But should his job be at risk? Categorically not. Derby have been far too prone to chopping and changing in recent seasons and where has that got them? Cocu should have at least 18 months before a decision is made.

And until that time passes, the fans need to start throwing their support behind him. If they do, any positive outcome will taste all the sweeter.