Derby County will face East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday lunchtime in their final Sky Bet Championship fixture before the first international break of the season.
dcfc.co.uk has gathered all the information you need to know ahead of the game (12:30pm kick-off).
TICKET NEWS…
Tickets for Saturday's game are still available to buy on General Sale and will be on sale until two hours before kick-off.
Tickets are available on sale online only * and 2020/21 and 2019/20 Season Ticket holders were able to secure their usual seat location up to 48 hours before kick-off and benefit from a priority booking period.
Please click here for the Derby County Vs Nottingham Forest Ticketing FAQS
Please ensure you use your Fan ID when logging in to the club’s ticketing platform. If you encounter any difficulties or have any questions, please contact Ticket.Office@dcfc.co.uk.
SUPPORTER INFORMATION…
Following the UK Government’s recent announcement to lift the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, Pride Park Stadium is now operating at full capacity.
For those supporters attending the game, we wish to provide the following guidance and information:
Tickets
* Ticket sales end at 10:30am on the day of the game and are only available to buy online. No tickets are available to buy after this point. 2020/21 Season ticket holders are required to process their individual match ticket online in advance of the fixture. Supporters should not turn up without a ticket on the day.
* The Ticket Office counters and phone lines will remain closed until further notice.
* Season Ticket cards are NOT valid for this game.
* All match tickets have been sent via the ‘Print at Home’ or Mobile ticket delivery methods to the email address we have registered to your Fan ID (please check your junk/spam folders) so please ensure that your details are up to date on dcfc.co.uk.
* Supporters that selected the 'Print at Home' delivery option must print their tickets prior to arriving at the stadium on white A4 paper, using black ink only.
* There will be no facility for collecting tickets on matchday.
* It is also possible for supporters that selected the Mobile Ticket delivery option to scan their match ticket on a smartphone device.
* There is no option to upgrade nor downgrade tickets on the day of the game, therefore please make sure you have obtained/purchased the correct age category.
* In line with NHS Test & Trace guidelines, when applying for a ticket, supporters must ensure their personal and contact details are correct and must provide their current telephone number.
* Supporters with any match ticket related enquiries prior to the day of the game are advised to email ticket.office@dcfc.co.uk. Disabled supporters with any access enquires are advised to email emma.drury@dcfc.co.uk.
* Ticketing FAQs for this game can be found here: dcfc.co.uk/page/middlesbrough-forest-faqs
Stadium Access
* The Ticket Access windows, located on the North Stand, will be open from 10am for supporters having issues gaining entry on their tickets.
* The turnstiles will open at 11am and kick-off is at 12:30pm. Supporters are encouraged to arrive early to avoid unnecessary queues.
* Matchday staff will be available to assist with any queries and direct supporters to their seats. They will be wearing blue tabards and be located around the stadium.
* Bags must be no larger than 45cm x 30cm x 15cm and are subject to search. There is no on-site storage facility for oversized bags. If you have a medical condition that requires you to bring a bag or other equipment, please email emma.drury@dcfc.co.uk.
Disabled Supporters
* Disabled supporters who have claimed a complimentary Personal Assistant Ticket will also be required to email emma.drury@dcfc.co.uk with the full contact details of their Personal Assistant (full name, address, telephone number) as entry into the stadium will not be permitted until this information has been provided.
Code Of Conduct
* Derby County's COVID-19 Supporters Code of Conduct can be found here: dcfc.co.uk/page/covid-19-supporters-co...
Car Parking
* Car Parking is now SOLD OUT this fixture (Car Park A, which is located directly behind the South Stand). The lead supporter will be placed on our guestlist, and you will be required to give that name on arrival to gain entry. Supporters will not be able to purchase stadium car parking on the day of the game. Supporters that require Accessible Parking are advised to email emma.drury@dcfc.co.uk prior to the match.
Supporter Safety
* In the interest of our supporters' safety, we are advising fans to wear a face covering or face visor (covering both their nose and mouth) in the concourses and toilet areas, unless they are consuming refreshments, medically exempt or under the age of 12.
* Although wearing a mask is no longer mandatory, please consider others around you. Please also continue to use the hand sanitising stations around Pride Park Stadium and try and avoid close contact with others where possible. Finally, please always follow the guidance of Stewards.
Refreshments
* A limited menu will be served from the concourse kiosks, including pies, hot dogs, drinks and confectionary. This includes a limited range of hot and cold food plus draught alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages.
* Pride Park Stadium is now a cashless venue, debit/credit cards (excluding AMEX) and contactless payment are accepted.
The Yard
* The Yard at Pride Park Stadium will be open from 10:30am until kick-off and after the final whistle until 4:30pm. A Bar Menu will be available to supporters on first-come, first-served basis.
The Rampage
* The Rampage, the club’s monthly magazine, will be available to buy from the DCFCMegastore as well as from sellers outside the North Stand, North West Corner and North East Corner of Pride Park Stadium.
Pre-Match Q&A
* Local Boxers Sandy Ryan and Zach Parker will take part in a pre-match question and answer session on the Pride Park Stadium pitch from just after 12pm to discuss their sporting careers and look ahead to the big game.
DCFCMegastore
* The DCFCMegastore will be open from 9am until 5pm, stocking the new 2021/22 Derby County home and away kits, trainingwear and many other products. The DCFCMegastore’s ‘Mini Store’ outside the stadium will be open from 10am until kick-off.
Matchday Betting
* Supporters wishing to place a matchday bet can do so using club partner Unibet's fast and secure betting App easily from their mobile, as well as at the Unibet stations in the concourse areas.
Download from the Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/unibet-pro/id4633353...
Download for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com....
Please Note: 18+ only. begambleaware.org.
Other Information
* For any more information please see the FAQ section on dcfc.co.uk, or simply click here.
TEAM NEWS…
Manager Wayne Rooney is set to recall several senior players back into the side, including the likes of Ravel Morrison, Phil Jagielka and Curtis Davies, after they were rested for Tuesday night's Carabao Cup Round Two defeat at Sheffield United.
Skipper Tom Lawrence could return to the squad after missing Derby's last three matches with a groin issue.
Striker Colin Kazim-Richards is now a long-term absentee with an achilles injury sustained in the recent 2-1 defeat at Peterborough United and he will be out of action for a significant period of time.
Midfielder Jason Knight is still out with an ankle injury, sustained in mid-July, which was at the time set to keep him out for between 8-12 weeks. He is making good progress in his rehabilitation work but is not yet at the point where he can return to training.
Polish
international midfielder Krystian Bielik, who suffered an ACL knee
injury in January, is making good progress in his rehabilitation work
but is still not yet in a position to return to full training.
MANAGER'S THOUGHTS…
Manager Wayne Rooney offered his pre-match views to RamsTV on Thursday and said: “I said after the Sheffield United game that I can’t wait. I think it’s a match where the pressure is on Nottingham Forest to win. On us, we are going to try and take the game to them.
“We want to win the game and if we do then I think we can say that we have had a great start to the season.
“It will leave Forest on zero points so we will be doing everything we can to win.
“It will be nice if we do that because the lads will have a few days off and I’m sure they will enjoy that during the international break.”
He added: “We know it is a big game. There is local pride at stake and the players will be ready for it come 12:30pm on Saturday and they will do everything to win.”
The full interview can be viewed in the above video.
PRE-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE…
Manager Wayne Rooney staged his pre-match news conference with the local and national media on Thursday afternoon from Moor Farm Training Ground.
MATCH OFFICIALS…
Tim Robinson will oversee Saturday's game against the Reds.
Robinson took charge of 40 games during the 2020/21 season, producing a total of 123 yellow cards and five red cards.
He
oversaw Derby's 1-0 win at Queens Park Rangers in January of this year, as well as the 2-1 loss at Watford the following month.
He will be assisted by Nigel Lugg and Daniel Leach on the lines, whilst Stephen Martin has been appointed as the fourth official.
EFL SUBSTITUTE RULES…
The five substitutions rule has been scrapped for the 2021/22 season, the English Football League confirmed in July.
The rule allowing clubs to make five changes, as opposed to the usual three, was brought in following football's restart in June 2020 after a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given that games had to be condensed into a short period of time it was thought beneficial and allowed managers to make as many as five changes in three intervals during a match.
Clubs had a longer post-break between seasons this time around and so the temporary rule has been changed.
Teams will be able to name seven substitutes but only use a maximum of three.
STREAMING INFORMATION…
With
COVID-19 capacity restrictions lifted and EFL fixtures being played in
front of full crowds once again, the temporary change in streaming rules
is no longer valid.
If you can't make the game in person, other options to catch up with the action on the pitch – including live TV, live radio, streaming of selected matches alongside highlights on TV and online of every Sky Bet EFL game.
LIVE TV (DOMESTIC)
In the UK, Sky Sports will show 138 Sky Bet EFL matches, 15 Carabao Cup ties and the Semi Finals and Final of the Papa John’s Trophy.
In the case of Weekend Fixtures, the EFL’s designated kick-off times* for Sky Live Matches are usually scheduled as follows:
* Friday evenings at 7:45pm or 8pm
* Saturdays at 12:30pm; Sundays at 12-noon
Within the Sky contract there are other kick-off times that are available to the broadcaster
In the case of scheduled Midweek Matches, live Sky fixtures will be between 7:30pm and 8pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
RADIO
TalkSPORT offer exclusive live commentaries on national radio across the Sky Bet EFL as well as non-exclusive rights to the Carabao Cup that are shared by the BBC.Both TalkSPORT and the BBC have the ability to broadcast score flash updates across all competitions.BBC Local Radio also have individual commentary deals with selected EFL clubs.
LIVE TV (INTERNATIONAL)
Any match shown live on Sky Sports in the UK is made available overseas via the League’s international broadcast partners.As well as this fixture, a minimum of 36 Championship fixtures taking place on Saturdays at 3pm, will be distributed for international coverage, alongside selected League One and Two fixtures, Carabao Cup ties, and action from across the Sky Bet Play-Offs.
A full list of the EFL’s international broadcast partners are available here:efl.com/iFollow/international-broadcasters/
HIGHLIGHTS
In the UK, Quest will continue to be the home for all highlights of matches in the Sky Bet EFL, Carabao Cup and Papa John’s Trophy, with action from a full weekend schedule of matches broadcast at 9pm on Saturdays, and midweek League highlights and Carabao Cup midweek highlights also screened on applicable weeknights. Internationally, a number of the EFL’s broadcast partners show repeat transmissions and highlights.
STREAMING
In respect of domestic streaming, the EFL will return to the position as was prior to the pandemic when the live broadcast or streaming of any match in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is prohibited between the hours of 2:45pm-5:15pm on Saturday afternoons.
EFL clubs will have the right to live-stream midweek matches on iFollow or Club equivalent service, with Sky Sports also able to stream the same Championship fixtures to subscribers across their Red Button interactive and digital services.
The position in each Sky Bet EFL division is as follows:
CHAMPIONSHIP - DOMESTIC
* All scheduled midweek matches (unless selected as one of Sky Sports Exclusive midweek selections)
* Displaced weekend matches – matches which are moved from Saturday 3pm kick-offs for non-TV purposes (at the discretion of the Home club)
* Bank Holiday matches (at the discretion of the Home club)
CHAMPIONSHIP - INTERNATIONAL
Overseas supporters can watch live all EFL Championship league games provided that they have not been selected for international television broadcast in a territory that has an overseas broadcast partner