FOR Nigel Clough, stepping into the City Ground as a manager will be the catalyst for some decidedly mixed emotions.

As he strides into the unfamiliar surroundings of the away dug out, the Derby boss could be forgiven to casting his mind back into the past.

By the time the final whistle blows, Clough will be hoping to have dealt a significant blow to the club he represented for the majority of his playing career.

But he may also have extra motivation, after revealing that his father harboured some regrets about the manner of his own departure from Nottingham Forest.

When Brian Clough retired, the legendary figure always played down his disappointment at seeing his historic tenure come to an end with relegation from the top flight.

But Clough junior, following in his father's footsteps as manager of Derby County, says seeing his Forest career end on such a low note did have a significant effect on his father.

"Of course the relegation was always a source of regret," said Clough.

"People used to come up and him and say it didn't matter – but he always felt that it did.

"I would say that was the one major regret, that he left with a relegation. But we all felt it and we all felt responsible at the time.

"It's always nice to go back for me but it won't be if we lose. I was a supporter for nine or ten years and then played for them.

"Inevitably, when you spend that long at a place, it does become very special. But that all goes out the window when the whistle blows."

There will be little time for sentiment once the business of earning a fifth round tie against Manchester United begins in earnest.

"The priority is to try to get a result, although this game still isn't as important as Plymouth away on Saturday," said Clough.

"But we've got the added incentive of Manchester United in the next game if we win tomorrow and that should be sufficient.

"There might be a few emotions when we drive up to the car park but that's it.

"The memories from playing for Forest are a million miles away now, they are consigned to the past.

"We haven't got too much time to reminisce about the old times at the moment because we've got enough on our plate."