NO matter where he has been in the past few days, Chris Cohen has had constant reminders about how much tonight means to Nottingham Forest fans.

After twice drawing at Pride Park this season – once in the league and then in the FA Cup – Cohen is relishing this fourth round replay against Derby as much as anybody.

Out in the street or in the local shops, Forest fans have been offering their memories and support in the run-up to the sell-out match. Now it is here, the midfielder is desperate to ensure the Reds do not let the occasion get the better of them at the City Ground.

For as well as local bragging rights, a fifth round home tie against Manchester United awaits the winner. And Cohen knows what this match and a potential clash with the Premiership and European champions means to the city.

The 21-year-old said: "It is going to be amazing because loads of people have been coming up to us about it and we know how important it is to the fans.

"Everyone is buzzing and we want to go into the Derby game with the confidence from the last few weeks.

"We have had two games away from home against them so the support is going to be a lot more for us than it was then.

"It is also a great opportunity for us to go and play Manchester United in the last 16 of the FA Cup so we all want to win it.

"We are prepared right and all want to win it desperately. Just from being out and about, in the shops and stuff, you hear it all from the supporters. It will be such a great game to play in and we know we have a young team but we have a lot of experience and games under our belt so we know we are capable of winning. We have to do everything right, nothing sloppy.

"It is nice going away from home if you get on top, you can hear their fans turning on them then.

"So we have to make sure we do not let them do that to us because we know our fans, when they are behind us, are up there with the best in the country and it makes it a very intimidating place to visit.

"We know we have to show the fans how passionate we are about the game and how much we want to win it and they will be behind us."

A potential match with United just adds extra spice to the tie.

Cohen said: "Any professional footballer wants to play in the big games and if you don't you are in the wrong trade. It will be a massive, massive opportunity for us against the likes of Ronaldo and Rooney.

"They always put strong teams out in the FA Cup so it would be a dream come true for the young players but we have to get through Derby first and that is all we have got our minds on at the minute.

"The manager has not mentioned it. He knows this is the important game and sometimes the occasion gets the better of the game and you do not show your ability as much.

"We have to make sure we show what we can do and play the normal way even though it is a different occasion to what we have had at the City Ground so far this season.

"You have to be calm and not see the red mist. You have to show you are passionate about the game but have to use your mind as well as your body."

The former West Ham trainee knows they have to be aware of their former charge Kris Commons as he makes his first return to the City Ground this evening.

"We have to be wary of him and stop him from getting shots in," added Cohen.