Derby County manager Frank Lampard says Nottingham Forest should be in the playoff mix following their heavy summer investment as he was asked for his opinion on his side’s top six rivals, Derby Telegraph report.
They should be in the mix with the squad they have got. They recruited heavily in the summer. I think they have got good players and they should be in there.
It adds spice locally in terms of rivalry, but I not too concerned with that one. I am more concerned with what we do to try and get in those play-off spots.
The playoff picture involving Derby and Forest:
Derby and Forest are among a clutch of clubs vying for what seems the last two playoff spots.
With just seven games of the season remaining, Bristol City and Aston Villa currently sit in fifth and sixth spot respectively. Fourth-placed West Bromwich Albion are a further nine points ahead.
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Hull City, Middlesbrough, Preston North End and Sheffield Wednesday make up the fellow top six chasers. It means there is still plenty to play for and lots of twist and turns are still to come.
Forest have taken ten points from their past six matches. New boss Martin O’Neill has begun to stamp his mark on the side as defensively they have improved.
According to Transfermarkt, The Reds spent around £25 million last summer. A top six challenge should have been the least expected of them this season but they struggled to get going under former boss Aitor Karanka.
Derby, meanwhile, have been more diligent with their signings over the past 12 months. But this has come largely as a result of previous heavy spending which didn’t fulfil its goal of promotion.
The Premier League riches means so much to those chasing, the pressure to now make it is huge.
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Forest and Derby both now face back-to-back away games starting this weekend as the Reds head to Yorkshire to face struggling Rotherham United while the Rams travel south to take on Brentford.
Also see: Derby County’s hopes of retaining Mason Mount now appear much slimmer.