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Derby responded to Cardiff's lunchtime win against Sunderland to climb back up to second as they beat Birmingham 3-0 at St Andrew's.

It was another happy to return to his former stomping ground for Rams boss Gary Rowett, but he stressed his side must stay focused on their own performances.

"At times we did seem to over play the ball, but we created good chances and we got into some really good positions," Rowett told BBC Radio Derby.

"I don't like games when we attack, then they attack, then we attack - I just felt the subs settled that down a bit in this game.

"Well done to Cardiff, but that doesn't matter to us. The lads watched the game, but it doesn't matter. We control what happens to us."

Apologies to both sets of fans here for what's about to come up next...

I guess it's Forest fans who will be the ones none too chuffed.

Villa get the ball on the outskirts of the Nottingham Forest penalty area but the ball is turned over and the home side breaks.

Bit of tippy-tappy on the edge of the Villa 'redzone' results in an over-hit cross to the backstick from Armand Traore which is easily mopped up.

Nine to the break.

Forest desperate to get Matty Cash and Kieran Dowell into those little pockets of space in front of the Aston Villa defence but when they do it doesn't take long for Villa to scramble and shut down the move.

Possession wise it seems to have swung Forest's way, but Villa are the ones smiling on the scoreboard.

Forest getting in and about the Aston Villa penalty area but barring the Matty Cash shot have not had a clear-cut chance.

Villa by contrast lead and got a thumping header from John Terry rattle the woodwork.

What will please Aitor Karanka is they've not allowed Villa to settle since conceding.

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Alan Hutton has to be alert to hook away a radar-guided pass in behind as Forest loom large, and it lifts the City Ground crowd audibly.

Villa do enough to take the sting out of the move and Forest have to regroup.

Still wide open this game, even if Villa are in front. It's been an easy-to-watch encounter so far. Certainly better than the Sheffield derby and Cardiff-Sunderland!

Strong run down the Forest left by Zach Clough tempts Ahmed Elmohamady into a challenge and wins a corner.

The delivery was a real beast to deal with Sam Johnstone all at sea but Villa got it away.

Move not finished yet though...

Forest got a free-kick on the breakaway from that last move but a clumsily executed routine allowed Villa to recover and block Kieran Dowell's free-kick effort. Villa hold out easily.

By the way, that John Terry header was thumping. Like a storybook centre-half goal from a 1950s comic. Shuddered off the bar. Let-off.

What was the name of the witch in Rod Hull and Emu? Grotbags? Sounds like Snodgrass. A little bit.

Anyway, I'll park that little gag there.

Villa happy to stroke the ball around calmly and coolly, before springing to life with the One Direction look-a-like Jack Grealish on the left side, who buys a free-kick.

Chopped down. Another free-kick from Robert Snodgrass... JOHN TERRY HITS THE BAR! So close to a second!

Good response by Forest, who pour the pressure on Villa from a set-piece which results in a bit of aerial pin-ball before it's properly cleared by the visitors.

Robert Snodgrass by the way, should have been sat on a broom with a crooked nose and a tall, pointy black hat. That's how spell-bindingly wicked the cross for Scott Hogan's goal was.

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Matt Mills clobbers Albert Adomah, who stays down on the edge of the Forest box. Let-off there. Might have been an awkward set-piece for the Reds to defend.

Steve Bruce making his feelings known on the Villa bench.

Mills by the way, was left floundering there as Adomah rinsed him. The Forest defender is currently sporting some kind of ponytail/manbun. Which I dislike.

Aston Villa push the ball about beautifully on the cusp of the Forest penalty area and work an opening when Jack Grealish prods the ball to Conor Hourihane on the right side of the box, but in chopping it onto his left foot he loses the angle and the effort is blocked.

Neither side looks too concerned at the moment. Oh, here we go... ah in the end it's an easy save for Villa goalkeeper Sam Johnstone after Matty Cash's shot dribbles to him. Great build up though, sharp passing.

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Under-achievers Hull and Reading shared the points in a goalless draw and despite their winless run stretching to seven league games, Reading manager Jaap Stam was content with the draw.

"It's always good to take a point away from home," Stam told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"Sometimes you want to have more, but we knew we would be facing a side today desperate for the points as well.

"We've spoken about going back to basics in recent weeks, working hard to keep a clean sheet and then building from there, so it's encouraging.

"There wasn't always a a great deal of space today and they posed a threat coming forward to. It was a game of few chances, but this point for us is an important one and a good one."

Everyone loves a homegrown talent and Ben Brereton is one of those that Forest fans would back above most given his association as a junior.

He's just tried to steer a Eric Lichaj cross toward goal but the ball looped up safely into Sam Johnstone's palms.

Dangerous set-piece for Forest has a few fans on the edge of their seat but they cope with the Villa effort and clear their lines.

Robert Snodgrass is popping up in decent areas to cause Forest problems. One well-timed challenge for Forest by David Vaughan stopped him in his tracks a moment ago.

I think the 'heat maps' of these two teams might just show Villa have shaded the battle in the past five minutes.

Image source, Rex Features

If anyone knows how good Villa's tricky winger Albert Adomah is, then it's Forest boss Aitor Karanka. He was a big part of the Boro side, under the Spaniard, that won promotion to the Premier League, even if he was quickly shipped out on arriving there.

He's a real outlet threat. Kieran Dowell is offering the same quality for Forest. Will be a key feature, which of those two gets the game by the scruff of the neck.

Slaloming run by Aston Villa striker Scott Hogan takes him into the box but he loses it, then Villa recycle and look to work it down the right side but Armand Traore does well to win a Forest throw.

Could be an open, expansive match at this rate.

There have been some very lean times for both of these teams but it is nights like this that evoke memories of greater times. Big crowd, bit of rivalry based on relative proximity.

Forest getting the ball forward quickly in the first few moments. Villa setting up like a classic away team.

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After 'Mull of Kintyre' soars around the ground, James Linington shrills on his whistle, and Villa get us under way.

Forest defending the Trent End in the first half.