Image source, Empics

Derby County head coach Darren Wassall knows Nottingham Forest well, having come through the ranks at the City Ground under the tutelage of the late, great Brian Clough.

Wassall joined Forest as a 14-year-old and spent 10 years at the club before making the switch to Derby County.

"I had a great mentor in Brian Clough, he taught me a lot about the game and about life as well. I owe him a lot," Wassall told BBC Radio Derby.

"It was my apprenticeship in football, so it will always mean a lot to me. But I joined Derby County in 1992 and have been living here in Derby with my two boys and wife ever since. I'm Derby through and through."

It's that time in the pre-match build-up where you turn to your resident midfielder, standing in as coach while injured - Nottingham Forest's Andy Reid.

So, what two bobs worth has he got for us?

"I don't particularly like Derby," Reid told BBC Radio Nottingham.

Image source, Getty Images

Really not one to mix his words, the Republic of Ireland international had his say on the state of affairs at the iPro Stadium: "There is plenty of uncertainty over there, they are by no means the perfect club. I know we kind of take some stick for the way things are run here, but they have to take a little bit of flak as well.

"They have been a bit all over the place recently, considering all the money they have thrown at it recently."

By all over the place, he means sacking Paul Clement with Derby fifth in the table and the erratic run of form which has seen them win just four of their past 16 games in all competitions.

Nottingham Forest fans woke up to a worrying and all-too-familiar feeling on Monday morning.

Dougie Freedman became the sixth full-time manager to be sacked by owner/chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi. The running tally of bosses in that time is now eight.

The chances of the two-time European Cup winners playing Premier League football again seem further away than when the Kuwaiti businessman took control less than four years ago.

Get the full picture of the goings on at the City Ground here.

So, Harry Redknapp is back in football as as advisor at Derby County.

What does that mean? Well it means that he is there until the end of the season to support head coach Darren Wassall and until there is a review of the coaching structure. Makes sense.

Any chance Redknapp could take charge this season? No, he says.

Could he take charge next season? Maybe, by the sounds of it.

Will he manage Jordan for their next two World Cup qualifiers? Of course, what sort of question is that?!

Natalie Jackson
BBC East Midlands sports editor

Image source, Empics

There is nothing more exciting than a classic derby match and for me this one is the biggest and best of the weekend.

These two teams both have a rich history and have players and managers who have represented both sides going right back to the Brian Clough era. It’s a rivalry the players feel as much as the fans because these games are nearly always feisty with plenty of drama, red cards and great goals. 

I’ve only missed two derby matches in the last 10 years. Among my favourites - the infamous coffee cup game, Savage and the scarf, Tyson and the flag and who can forget “knee gate!” Not even Harry Redknapp joining Derby this week has overshadowed this one, but with all the changes at both clubs recently it’s hard to predict the outcome.  

May the best team win!

Image source, Getty Images

Colin Fray
BBC Radio Nottingham Sport

Image source, Getty Images

When Forest and Derby fans wake up on derby day, there’s an extra-special tingle of excitement – and a little nervousness, too. For however the season has been going, and however confident you might be in your side’s ability, there’s always that nagging fear: “what if we lose to them..?!”

Those outside the East Midlands might not quite “get” the Forest-Derby rivalry. Those more accustomed to watching their derbies on Merseyside or in Manchester might not realise that passions can run so high between clubs not from the same city. But ask any Red or Ram when the most special days of the season are, and they’ll both pick the matches between the sides either end of Brian Clough Way.

And while many derbies might fail to deliver on the promised excitement, that’s rarely the case when these two sides get together. More than half of the last 10 have resulted in a red card. Both sides have recently hit FIVE against the other.  A last-minute penalty save by a former Derby keeper playing for Forest at Derby, a late winner in Derby for a Forest player born and raised in that city.  

There’s always a story, and with former Ram Paul Williams in charge of Forest, and former Red Darren Wassall in charge of Derby, this derby has every chance of making a few more headlines.     

On the topic of Jamie Ward, this is what the Forest forward says about his return to the iPro Stadium.

"I do expect a bit of respect because I thought I did well for them for four and a half years," he told BBC Nottingham.

"But we know what football is like, it changes so quickly and people forget about things. I will take it in my stride no matter what reaction I get.

"I've not been back since I left, so it is going to be a little bit strange."

Owen Bradley
BBC Radio Derby Sport

This is another East Midlands derby bursting with potential storylines. You have a product of the Forest academy in the Derby dugout, while a former Ram returns to take charge of the Reds.

Throw in Harry Redknapp’s arrival this week, plus a few dubious decisions at boardroom level at both ends of the A52, and you have the sort of episode in store that Eastenders would be proud of.

Image source, Rex Features

If you want to focus on events on the pitch, look no further than Jamie Ward. He spent four happy seasons at Derby and became a fan favourite for the way he thrived in this very fixture.

He scored at the City Ground, and was a lightning rod for controversy whenever the Rams played Forest.

He made the switch in the summer after being released by Derby but still has plenty of close friends in the squad and has been spotted here at the iPro Stadium on more than a few occasions.

He’ll be up for this, he understands the emotion and the expectation of the fixture. He expects a warm welcome back too, a rare thing indeed in this rivalry.  

Owen Phillips
BBC Sport at iPro Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

Ahhh, the wonderful serenity of pre-match on derby day. Here's the iPro a couple of hours before kick-off.

Loads of stewards milling about and plenty of people getting everything ready behind the scenes. But it was oh so quiet. Now picture 30-odd thousand rabid footie fans...

The old adage is that a picture is worth a thousand words.

So, does a picture with three words at least equate to three thousand words?

Either way, Derby County fan David Greenall spelled out his feeling ahead of the match against their bitter near neighbours.

Image source, BBC Sport

Derby day in Derby in here!

Welcome one and all, be you from the Rams side of the divide or a fan from the red Forest of Robin Hood country.

At both ends of the A52 in the East Midlands today, there is a fervent support eagerly awaiting the latest chapter in this rivalry to unfold.

Oh and how the plot has thickened this week...

You have a former Derby County favourite, and resident Forest villain, now playing in red and making his return to the iPro Stadium. Jamie Ward, take a bow.

Then, there is the curious case of the respective bosses... A former Derby County man in Paul Williams standing in for the Reds following Dougie Freedman's sacking six days ago. For the hosts, head coach Darren Wassall came through the youth ranks at Forest, began his senior career at the City Ground in the 1980s and is now starting out in management at Derby, where he also featured as a player.

Oh, just chuck in Harry Redknapp's arrival in there for good measure. It's been a busy old week in Derby and Nottingham, and we are still 30 minutes from kick-off.

The scene set. Lights, cameras, ACTION!