Nottingham Forest under orders to secure bragging rights at Derby - from both manager and chairman
NOTTINGHAM Forest will be under orders to secure the bragging rights for their fans at Derby this weekend – from both manager and owner of the club.
Alex McLeish and Fawaz Al Hasawi today spoke of the importance of beating their fierce rivals in the East Midlands derby at Pride Park.
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Alex McLeish
Both men realise the importance of getting one over on the Rams, regardless of the need to keep their push for a top-six finish on track.
Derby have won the last three meetings between the two sides and Al Hasawi is keen to see that run brought to an end.
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"What do I know about these games? I know that this is very important," said the Kuwaiti.
"I know they won in the first game this season, so we would like to pay them back for that.
"We want to win this game. I know it is important for the fans. I will be here for it and I hope we get the right result.
"I respect Derby as a team. If we lose, that is football.
"But I can promise that we are going to do everything in our power to win."
Forest's squad is currently hit with injuries to a few key players.
But Al Hasawi is hoping to see others step into the void, just as Radi Majewski did against Peterborough last weekend.
"We have four or five players who are perhaps out, including Andy Reid. But this is not an excuse," said Al Hasawi.
"We have a good squad and we are hoping for a good result.
"Radi played very well against Peterborough.
"We do not know who will be the best player on Saturday, but we hope there is somebody who can step up and win it for us."
McLeish knows a little about local derbies, having managed Rangers in Scotland and both Birmingham and Aston Villa in the West Midlands.
And he also knows what the result on Saturday will mean to both sets of fans.
"The derby games are fantastic and I know this one can be particularly feisty," said McLeish.
"I have been involved in a few that people say there is nothing like. I have experienced the Old Firm derby.
"But I know how important these derby games are. I know what it means to the fans, when it comes to the bragging rights and everything else.
"It would be an insult to say that the Old Firm is the biggest derby in the world, because every derby, to each club's respective fans, is the biggest to them. We know how important it is."
Khalid Al-Rashidi will become the first Kuwaiti to play professional football in England, after he was granted a work permit to join Nottingham Forest.
The 25-year-old, who has been capped more than 30 times for his country, will provide back up for Karl Darlow and for the 'experienced' keeper manager McLeish is still hopeful of signing before the end of the transfer window.
Nathan Tyson may not face his former club on Saturday, with the Derby striker understood to be close to joining Millwall on loan.
Comments
by monty_the_owl
Thursday, January 17 2013, 9:05PM
“Derby were better at the city ground.
Ignoring the sending off,because thats just an excuse,they were better.
Attitude.Desire.Tactics.Creativity.Persistence.Confidence.Skill.Control.Pace.Vision.Finishing.
Any metric you care to mention - Derby were better.It was hard to watch at times.
All I ask is that forest give derby a game.If they win - well I'll be over the moon.
Forest players need to turn up and remember who they play for.
For civic pride.For a city worth something.For a history worth remembering.For the people they represent.”
by M15t3rT
Thursday, January 17 2013, 7:55PM
“Darius Henderson anyone?”
by HorshamRed
Thursday, January 17 2013, 7:20PM
“Breaking news on Sky that we have sacked Marthur + Frank Clark....times are a changing!!! Sad to see Frank go in this way but nothing owed to the other one! Hold on to your hats!!!!”
by prideparkram
Thursday, January 17 2013, 6:44PM
“nice to see your getting your excuses in AGAIN
about time you stopped talking about the same things year in year out
stop looking back
its now that matters
derby 2
scum 0”
by AndyGstar
Thursday, January 17 2013, 6:34PM
“I meant blackpool”
by AndyGstar
Thursday, January 17 2013, 6:26PM
“Redwayne. DJ Campbell you say
Is that the same DJ that ruined your life when he was at Blackburn
You fickle fickle fickle little forest fool
And here's one for you Mexico mart your not getting players like Charlie Austin
Not happening mate so stop deluding yourself that your a big club
You never have been and you never will be
You lot never cease to amaze me with your nonsense
Everything gets looked at through forest tinted glasses
The craziest thing of all is you actually believe what you type
Here's the simple truth nobody decent wants to come to your farce of a club
You don't have a good team or a good academy and your future doesn't look good
Please quote me on any of this at a later date I doubt anyone will.”
by buddybonny
Thursday, January 17 2013, 4:35PM
“Huey...
Go onto the "FOREST GET WORK PERMIT FOR KHALID" thread....
Its about 6 down from this one....”
by Trentend1967
Thursday, January 17 2013, 4:32PM
“Let the mind games begin: http://tinyurl.com/bgpu5xs
He s 100% right though,”
by HueyTheNoose
Thursday, January 17 2013, 4:21PM
“Were's the link? Were is Trickies post? Am I going blind? Can someone else put the link up?”
by RichieW
Thursday, January 17 2013, 4:01PM
“Our squad is thread bare at the mo and we need some players in now.
It will be physical again and we have to match Derbys bully tactics.
If we keep 11 men we stand a chance.
We are only 2 wins ahead of derby now so we must beat them.
I hope the ref will stop the rams dirty tactics this time.
COME ON FOREST”