Forest's first decent spell of possession sees them probing for an opening, but unable to unlock the Derby defence. It's cagey stuff at the moment.

Derby on the attack and having more of the ball early on, but no chances so far at the City Ground.

Andrew Aloia
BBC Sport at the City Ground

The moment before the game when Mull of Kintyre plays out over the speakers then goes quiet for the home fans to take over in one voice is always a passionate one.

It has to be the few seconds on any given matchday that Nottingham Forest fans allow themselves to be hopeful.

Today was no different, as the crescendo was particularly spirited.

The 10 minutes of build up to kick off have been noisy from Forest supporters in general. There's a big derby day feeling to this game.

We are under way in both games.

Just a couple of minutes from kick-off in both derby games now.

The teams are out and ready to go - on all fronts.

Chris Cohen, Forest club captain, is back as team captain too.

You can follow all of today's EFL games on your BBC local radio station.

BBC Radio Lancashire has full coverage of Blackburn v Preston, while BBC Radio Nottingham and BBC Radio Derby are in position at the City Ground for commentary of Nottingham Forest v Derby.

Unfortunately a rights issue prevents us from streaming local radio commentaries on the BBC Sport website.

Andrew Aloia
BBC Sport at the City Ground

Image source, BBC Sport

New Nottingham Forest boss Mark Warburton is plastered all over the matchday programme, as you would be when you become the 10th managerial appointment in five years.

Warburton stresses all the right points for a club in real relegation trouble ahead of a hugely anticipated local derby. There is the obligatory "significance of the game is not lost on us" line, and the always popular "squad has a lot of quality" and "attitude of the players has been first-class" mentions.

With four pages of Warburton's musings, it will be interesting to see how it translates on the pitch against a Derby County side also under new management today.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

After our two early kick-offs, we have seven Championship matches getting under way at the wonderful Saturday afternoon time of 15:00 GMT - including Birmingham's match with leaders Newcastle.

Rafael Benitez's Magpies can pull away from second-placed Brighton, who play Leeds in the 17:30 GMT game, with victory at St Andrew's.

Meanwhile, Fulham will move into the top six above Sheffield Wednesday with a win over Wolves.

Burton, on a six-game unbeaten run, will be hoping to pull away from the drop zone when they host Brentford in the Bees' first-ever trip to the Pirelli Stadium.

If every picture tells a story, what story does this tell exactly?

Image source, BBC Sport

Groundhog Day: Mark Warburton and Gary Rowett star as two big football clubs with a glorious past desperately try to regain the glory days but struggle to break the circle of sackings and supporter frustration.

Send us your best film and television titles to sum up your club using #bbcefl on social media.

Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby Sport

The East Midlands derby will show Gary Rowett who is ready to fight for their place for the rest of this season and next. His appointment is timely as, barring a miracle, the Rams will be in the Championship next season and the remaining games are a time to assess - in a match situation -  what he needs next term.

Perhaps some of the players not thriving under the previous regime will suit a Rowett starting line-up and style of play.

Bradley Johnson could be one to benefit. Rowett likes a tough-tackling midfielder and Craig Bryson would give you the legs in a 4-4-2 to play alongside him.

Rowett nearly signed Johnny Russell for Birmingham. The question is - where would Will Hughes fit in to that system? Derby's new manager has said he will play any system to suit the opposition, which is something we have not seen at Pride Park for a number of years.

Image source, Rex Features

Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby Sport

For all Derby fans, this trip into enemy territory always leaves you salivating at the possibility of flying the black and white flag in celebration Trentside.

But Derby haven't won at Forest for five years, since Craig Bryson scored in a 1-0 win. Mark Warburton's arrival at Forest does seem to be conveniently timed after the most sought-after manager available was installed down the road.

For once both managers have been changed before the A52 derby, instead of afterwards!

Colin Fray
BBC Radio Nottingham Sport

Forest and Derby have both been struggling for form and results, and Forest’s plight is clearly more serious. One win in seven has seen them slump perilously close to the relegation zone, prompting the managerial change this week, so it’s crucial for Forest that Mark Warburton hits the ground running.

They’d need results no matter who they were playing, and that it’s Derby for an opening game just focuses the spotlight a little more on Forest’s performance.

Certainly, a win for the Reds would get the fans behind Warburton VERY quickly, and that could help a lot during the run-in. To get that win, though, Warburton will need to find a way to get his new side to become more accurate and ruthless in the final third of the pitch than they have been in recent matches.

Image source, Rex Features

Colin Fray
BBC Radio Nottingham Sport

Derbies between these two sides are always difficult to call, but with new managers, it becomes even more unpredictable than most.  

If the form book usually goes out of the window in a local derby, then it’s been hurled into the next county this week, because recent events elsewhere in the East Midlands have shown that form can count for little when you change your manager.

And who can possibly predict which of Mark Warburton or Gary Rowett is going to be able to bring the best out of their squads after just a few days’ work each?

Andrew Aloia
BBC Sport at the City Ground

Image source, BBC Sport

It has been a busy week for BBC Sport teams at both ends of Brian Clough Way, with Gary Rowett's appointment as Derby County boss and Mark Warburton's arrival as Nottingham Forest manager.

Both BBC Radio Nottingham and BBC Radio Derby commentary teams speak with tones of optimism ahead of today's East Midlands derby.

They are all smiles here. Very much in the eye of the storm after a busy week and less than 30 minutes from kick-off.

Gary Rowett said his affinity for Derby County made the decision to become boss easy and he is not fazed by the club's reputation for sacking managers.

No one could accuse the former Birmingham boss of not ticking a lot of the boxes needed to land the Rams role. He played for the club, has coached in the academy, lives in the area and his son Alfie is a season ticket holder. 

And he used to cover the team as BBC Radio Derby's summariser.

Image source, BBC Sport

So becoming manager was the next logical step. Read all about his appointment, qualities and his thoughts on today and beyond by clicking here.

Mark Warburton is the latest man hoping to reinvigorate two-time European Cup winners Nottingham Forest.

Image source, Dan Westwell

The ex-Rangers boss knows the Championship inside out having been hugely successful during his time as Brentford manager.

He's well aware of the reputation of owner Fawaz Al Hasawi but says he has been given the right assurances and the risk is well worth taking because "the size, quality, expectation and tradition of the club must excite you."

Read what he had to say by  clicking this link.

Andrew Aloia
BBC Sport at the City Ground

Whatever optimism the managerial shake-ups have had on these two East Midlands clubs is not really reverberating around the City Ground just yet.

Maybe it is just the weather, as it is grey, chilly and generally drab with heavy clouds hanging over the stadium. They do say a picture paints a thousand words and this about sums it up right now.

Image source, BBC Sport

Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton makes three changes to the team for his first match in charge, with Britt Assombalonga, Chris Cohen and Dani Pinillos in for Ross McCormack, Eric Lichaj and Armand Traore.

Gary Rowett also rings the changes for his first game as Derby boss, with four of them. Richard Keogh, Bradley Johnson, Craig Bryson and Johnny Russell all start.

Nottingham Forest:  J. Smith, Mancienne, Worrall, Fox, Pinillos, Osborn, Cohen (capt), Vaughan, Clough, Brereton, Assombalonga.

Substitutes: Evtimov, Pereira, Kasami, Lam, Vellios, Cash, McCormack.

Derby: Carson, Baird, Keogh (capt), Pearce, Olsson, Bryson, Johnson, Ince, Vydra, Russell, Nugent.

Substitutes: Mitchell, Christie, Anya, Butterfield, Hughes, Camara, Bennett.

Back to today and the team news, starting with Blackburn against Preston...

Rovers hand on-loan forward Lucas Joao his first start for the club as a replacement for the injured Danny Graham. Defender Charlie Mulgrew returns from injury to start for Tony Mowbray's strugglers. 

Preston boss Simon Grayson names an unchanged XI from the side that beat Reading 3-0 last time out, with Tom Barkhuizen continuing up front.

Blackburn: Steele, Williams, Lenihan, Mulgrew, Nyambe, Lowe (capt), Conway, Guthrie, Bennett, Joao, Emnes.

Substitutes: Raya, Hoban, Feeney, Gallagher, Akpan, Mahoney, Brown.

Preston: Maxwell, Clarke (capt), Huntington, Boyle, Cunningham, Horgan, Johnson, Pearson, McGeady, Barkhuizen, Hugill.   

Substitutes: Lindegaard, Spurr, Browne, Robinson, Gallagher, Makienok, Beckford.