Derby County needed just 24 seconds to assert their authority on the 101st East Midlands derby.
Matty Vydra had the ball in the right wing position and took the ball midway across the Forest penalty area before releasing a shot low to the keeper’s left hand and nestle in the corner of the net. The Rams faithful erupted amid a sea of black and white flags and Forest were well and truly on the back foot from the start.
To their credit Forest didn’t take the early setback lying down and had the balance of possession for the remainder of the half but couldn’t find that telling shot at the end of some promising moves. The Rams continued to keep Forest at bay for the remainder of the half but never looked threatening themselves.
Derby were quicker to the ball in the second period but still hadn’t managed to put the final nail in the Forest coffin. The visitors continued to threaten an equaliser but Derby had the answer and quick move and stunning pass by Vydra put David Nugent through on the Forest goal and a pin point shot across the keeper and into the corner of the net put the Rams two goals up.
A sweet free kick then hit the bar from Tom Lawrence as the Forest resolve finally crumbled and the Rams went on to finish the game with a clean sheet and three points which takes them within sight of the play-off places if they win their game in hand.
This may well be more than just three points for the Rams and could potentially kick start their season. At the very least it gives Rams fans the bragging rights this Monday morning over their fiercest rivals.