County Take On Forest

It’s a short trip that has been very much looked forward to by County fans.

It’s not often these days that County get the chance to humiliate the club from across the river and when those chances do come, everyone wants to be a part of it.

The only downside of this meeting is that we are not at Meadow Lane, but hey, it just makes it more humiliating for Forest when County stuff them on their own patch.

The lads will be up for this one, I’m sure they will put up a decent fight in the spirit of Sir Charlie.

Vital Quotes:

Les Bradd: ‘We had a great record against Forest back then.

‘They were in Division Two after being relegated from the top league and we were in there after winning two promotions under Jimmy.

‘It was a really successful period in our history and we had a lot of momentum, and they didn’t.

‘Whenever we played against Forest they were always big games and it was great to beat them.

‘The City Ground was a good ground for us. I hope the current squad can do the same as we did.’

Nottingham Forest Team News:

Goalkeeper Lee Camp and full-back Chris Gunter will miss out for Forest.

Both players are away on international duty with their respective countries.

Camp has linked up with Northern Ireland ahead of their Euro 2012 qualifier against the Faroe Islands, while Gunter is in the Wales squad for a friendly against Australia.

Their absence could see Paul Smith get an opportunity in goal and Brendan Moloney line up at right-back against the club where he had a loan spell two seasons ago.

Defender Joel Lynch, midfielder Radoslaw Majewski and strikers Joe Garner, Marcus Tudgay and Robbie Findley are options for manager Steve McClaren should he wish to make changes.

Player to watch: Nobody

None worth mentioning

Notts County Team News:

Notts County striker Lee Hughes will miss the Nottingham derby.

The 35-year-old scored County’s final goal in a 3-0 opening-day win over Carlisle on Saturday before he was forced off with an ankle injury early in the second half at Brunton Park.

Craig Westcarr replaced Hughes and he could start against the club where he began his career.

Midfielder Alan Judge will have a late fitness test on the hamstring problem.

Player to watch: The Crowd

County’s travelling army of fans will be the 12th man that the team needs behind them. A sell out for the Notts fans, it should be a boost for the players and very noisy.

Match Facts & Stats

These clubs have met 95 times previously; Nottingham Forest have won 39 times, Notts County 30, with 26 draws.

They have only met once before in the League Cup. Forest won 4-0 in the third round in October 1977 – that season they went on to win the trophy for the first time in their history.

source – bbc