Yohan Benalouane sends passionate Nottingham Forest message ahead of Derby clash | OneFootball

The second instalment of the East Midlands derby is upon us, with Nottingham Forest travelling to Pride Park to face Derby County tonight.

It’s always a big game between those two arch enemies, but there is an extra spice to tonight’s game given that both sides are looking to keep on climbing away from the relegation zone.

Yesterday marked two years since Yohan Benalouane netted the game’s only goal in a 1-0 win at the City Ground, with the defender tapping in from close-range with only two minutes on the clock.

It was a big win for Forest, who were struggling to find momentum under Martin O’Neill at the time as they came up against Frank Lampard’s play-off chasing Rams.

Benalouane has reacted to that memory ahead of tonight’s game, with the centre-half still showing his allegiance with the Reds and his love to the club.

The Verdict

Fans liked Benalouane a lot when he was at the City Ground. He wore his heart on his sleeve and he formed a solid defensive partnership with Alex Milosevic.

That goal came so early and some fans hadn’t even taken to their seats on the night, but what an atmosphere it was.

Tonight will be a tough game for Forest and I am expecting a very tight affair, however if they can grab a goal as early as Benalouane’s, it would be a great platform to build on.