Andy Buckley-Taylor’s Derby County blog: Nottingham Forest draw is a very valuable point

Well the dust has now settled after another East Midlands Derby and both sides had to settle for a point.

It’s fair to say that a draw was probably the right result in my opinion.

Derby were facing the strongest looking Forest line up for years and it was always going to be a tough ask to win yet another game against our rivals across ‘Brian Clough Way’.

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It was fitting that after ten minutes that both sets of fans had one minutes applause for the Great man on the tenth anniversary of his departure from this life.

The match, like many other battles between the two clubs, was a tough, fiercely fought game. Buxton, Eustace, and Shotton in particular put in some early crunching challenges.

Buxton particularly seemed very hyped up and paid for his wreckless challenges with two yellow cards.

Lansbury was also guilty of a cynical challenge on Will Hughes, who for me was the best Derby player on the day. Reid was also not shy in showing his presence to Derby players.

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Forest pretty much dictated the pace of the game up to half-time as Michail Antonio gave Ryan Shotton plenty of trouble.

Derby upped their game in the second half of the game and looked much more threatening. Hughes looked very good in midfield and played his best East Midlands Derby football so far.

Three fans entering the field of play brought the game to a stop and the Stewards and Police struggled to deal with them effectively. The game was held up for several minutes.

WWhen the game did restart it was our hosts who took the lead. Antonio finding Assombalonga in the middle who slipped and quickly jumped to his feet to fire in a great shot and put Forest ahead.

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The introduction of Ivan Calero and Jordon Ibe did change the midfield pattern of play a little. Ibe looked very lively during this cameo.

The Derby goal eventually came after Keogh headed and the ball rebounded off the bar. Shotton then nudged the ball goal wards, Darlow pushed it back and Leon Best fired it into the net! However, closer scrutiny of the replays showed that Shotton’s effort had indeed crossed the line.

The drama wasn’t over though. Jake Buxton received a second yellow late on and Derby were reduced to ten men. Forsyth moved to centre-half and Dawkins back to Left back.

We held on until the final whistle and a draw was in all fairness the right outcome.

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Forest are probably the best side in the divisions at the moment and to come away with a point puts us back on the road to chasing a spot in the leading pack.

What do you think? Email your views to Stephen Thirkill