This game will no doubt be billed by both sides a 'a must win'. It's fair to say that the season hasn't panned out quite how Donny or oursleves would have hoped but a loss for either side could be a hammer blow even at this stage of the season.

Last seasons trip to the Keepmoat was one of the worst displays not only of that season but of the last few with the home side running out deserved 1-0 winners. The abiding memory of that night was cramming into the back of some kind soulds white van as we attempted to find the ground after leaving the far too late.

The Ground

The Keepmoat is basically a smaller version of Leicester's Walkers Stadium. We will be able to judge for ourselves at the game. The capacity is a modest 15,200.

The North Stand end is home to away supporters and can hold up to 3,344 which includes 2,500 being directly behind the goal with the remainder being in the corners at either side.

Surrounding Area

The Keepmoat is relatively close to the town centre. New grounds tend to be built on land out of town which brings obvious problems in terms of pubs and travel but the Keepmoat is walkable (20-25 min walk) from the town centre and is served by local buses that run regularly from town.

Doncaster town centre has a Walkabout, Wetherpoons and a Yates' within close proximity to each other in the centre of town. There is also a Hogs Head amongst other various pubs on the high street. You cannot go wrong for a drink in Doncaster town centre. There is a cracking little cob shop across from Walkabout too.

Slightly away from town on the road to the stadium (near the old ground) are a few pubs that allow away fans in. The first is the Park Hotel whereas further down the road is another pub which I unfortunately can't recall the name of. Anyone in this bar the yesr we played the last game at Belle Vue will recall the rather over zealous bar maids who refused point blank to serve anyone until the singing had stopped. On our arrival it seemed to be mainly Doncaster fans inside although as time progressed Forest gradually took over. The large Santa that was on a shelf in the pub was soon being tossed around the bar and a couple of older Reds treated the rest to a version of some old terrace favourite that I had never heard before. Funnily enough, we would come across Santa a short while later... in the arms of a policeman at the turnstiles to the away end!

Travel

Despite the evening kick off, travel by train is possible. A very regular service of two to three trains per hour leave Nottingham throughout the afternoon with a change required at either Grantham or Chesterfield.  

Those wanting to travel to Sheffield before the game for pre-match can do so by catching the Chesterfield trains with their journey being prolonged by fifteen minutes. Trains from Sheffield to Doncaster run approximately every half hour and takes around fourty minutes.

After the game the only service back to Nottingham leaves Doncaster station at 22.13. This arrives into Sheffield at 22.54 with a wait until 23.38 for the connection to Nottingham that gets in at 00.46.

A price from Nottingham to Doncaster return is £19.30 (£12.75 with railcard) although this can be reduced by purchasing tickets to Nottingham-Sheffield and Sheffield-Doncaster separately bringing the cost down to £14.80 (£9.80 RC). This also works for any of the routes taken (ie Chesterfield or Grantham)

By car, leave M1 at Junction 32 and follow M18 into Doncaster. Follow signs for Doncaster racecourse. There is parking at the ground in the form of club car park or street parking.

Official Silverdale coaches depart from the Brian Clough stand car park at 5pm and costs £9.50.

This fixture was without doubt, the one we all looked for when the fixtures were announced way back in June. It goes without saying that we all would have wished to be going into the game with a few more points but Derby is Derby and if we can produce a similar performance to the one we witnessed at Selhurst Park then we shouldn't have anything to worry about.

 Mr Commons, we're coming to get you...

The Ground

Pride Park was one of the pioneers of the dull 'bowl' stadiums that have sprung up in the last decade. While it is more impressive than similarly designed grounds such at Leicester's Walkers Stadium, it still is a lifeless venue not helped by the Derby supporters who, along with Norwich, must be the most ridiculous set of fans in the country. Don't get me started on the bunch of kids to the right who nick everyone else's songs including the old Sheffield Wednesday chant which they have adapted to 'Forest ran away'. We should show them a clip of that pub at Derby station from last year when they sent the barman to shut the door!

The only section that differs from the rest of the ground is the Toyota West Stand which is two tiered and has a large block of corporate boxes at its left end. As the stand rises above the rest of the ground, the roof dips back down again to join up with the Derbyshire Building Society Stand and the Cawarden Stand behind each goal. Down the other by-line is the UK Diggers Stand. The overall capacity of the stadium is around 33,000 but don't let a Derby fan ever tell you they fill it. The 'sell out' for the first game of the season was boosted by the Derby Evening Telegraph giving literally thousands of tickets away with most of these on the Thursday before the game, long after Derby had advertised the game as a sell-out.

Away fans are housed in the Cawarden End with the entire stand usually being made available giving around 4,500 tickets although Forest were allocated just 2,500 in total.

Surrounding Area

Set in the middle of Pride Park industrial area, there is a lack of anything around the ground. The Harvester pub a few minutes from the ground is only pub that springs to mind with most pubs back in the city centre which is around a fifteen minute walk.

Across from the station is the Merry Widows and The Flowerpot which, judging by the trouble reported in the media lately, will probably be heavily patrolled by the police who will ensure Forest fans are escorted to the ground once off their trains. Gaining entry to any pubs in town may prove difficult but there are quite a few places to drink should the police be avoided.

Travel

With the fixture being resheduled for televison to Sunday it does mean there are less trains but still still a few to choose from. Services depart Nottingham at 09.25, 11.03, 11.50 and take around half an hour. After the game, Derbyshire Constabulary will be out in force to sheperd Forest supporters out of town as soon as possible and cram us into the carriages again so the return timetable will probably not be adhered to. The listed times are 15.16, 16.40, 17.15, 17.29 with the first of those trains probably being held back to allow all supporters on board. A return costs just £4.60 but not worth buying one as they won't get checked.

By car, follow the Brian Clough Way (A52) to Eastgate before bearing left onto the A601 St Alkmund's Way. At the next roundabout, take the first exit onto Station Approach (B6000) which leads down to the stadium. Parking is available around the industrial estate or leaving the car in the town centre and walking is another option.

There are a few public transport buses that run from Nottingham to Derby including the Rainbow 4 from Wheeler Gate and the Red Arrow from Victoria Bus Station.

Official Silverdale coaches depart from the Brian Clough Stand car park at and cost £

Tickets

TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT.

With Palace and Wimbledon sharing Selhurst Park for several years, visits have been numerous although none stand out in my mind as much as a game against the Eagles on August Bank Holiday Monday 2000. That man David Platt started himself and led Forest to a 3-0 lead at half time even scoring one himself. The second half was a real back to the walls job with the home side sensing a comeback after managing to get two goals long before the end. A controversial decision, when Fan Zi-Hi went tumbling over the onrushing Dave Beasant, somehow ended in a penalty much to the Forest fans dismay who were level with the incident and could see that it wasn't a foul nor was it in the box. The Chinaman put on a spectacular show for the crowd and of course the referee, even trying to poke Beasant's eye out whilst he was flat out on the floor after the Forest 'keeper laid into his antics.

Seconds later, Beasant was sent off and on came the lumbering figure of 18 year old Barry Roche making his first ever senior appearance. His first task was to maintain Forest's lead by saving Jason Gray's penalty. This was a nervous moments for me and Mitchell too. Sat right by their fans we had spent most of the game until this point winding up the angry Cockney's who now smelt revenge. Gray stepped up and slammed it home much to our dismay but the referee ordered a re-take after encroachment. Up stepped Gray for a second time but his effort was this time saved by Roche much to our delight and making himself an instant hero in the eyes of the couple of thousand Reds away to his left. (Thanks to Goalkeepers are different.com for providing me with the info on that game)

The Ground

Selhust Park has always struck me as odd due to the way it sits. It's been a while since my last visit but I recall how the stadium appears to be lodged into the ground down one side meaning that street on that particular side is almost level with the stands roof.

Inside, it consists of four individual structures all varying in age and design. The most recent is the Holmesdale Road Stand bult in 1994 which is two-tiered and has an interesting roof that rises up above the back row of seats and then curves back down over the smaller upper tier. When sat nearby to the home fans in this stand, the loud volume of noise they are able to create is perhaps as a consequence of the roof.

Opposite is the relatively new Whitehorse Lane Stand which is a single tier but doubles its size with the rows of executive boxes perched above it. To its right down the side of the pitch is the Main Stand that looks the most tired section of the ground with its rusted pillars and faded seats that could do with a clean. Across the other side is the Arthur Wait Stand which houses away supporters in one section of it named after the Palace chairman of the 1960's who guided the club up through all four divisions during his tenure. The stand is single tiered but the supporting pillars do obscure the views of those sat behind them.

Away fans are given the left end which can hold up to 2,000. Speaking from experience, trying to find a seat towards the front of the stand is a better option because of the pillars that block the view.

Surrounding Area

There are several pubs to choose from around Selhurst Park with many situated nearby to the various tube stops that serve the area. The Ship near Norwood Junction station is usually popular as is the Wetherspoons. Pubs surround the ground so there will be one use regardless of the direction you approach from.

Definitely worth a try is the chip shop on the corner of the away stand and the Whitehorse Lane end. There are plenty of food outlets scattered down the high street towards Thornton Heath station but this is the best, even getting a mention during the Radio Nottingham coverage on our last visit.

Travel

Trains run all day at half hour intervals from Nottingham taking the usual couple of hours to arrive at St Pancras. For the return journey there is just one train at 23.15 which should be easy enough to make although it doesn't arrive back in Nottingham until 01.47. There are cheap single tickets available for the trains into London but nothing for the return meaning cheapest price is £40+. A slightly cheaper option is to buy a ticket direct from Nottingham to Norwood Junction which brings the price down and also saves the hassle of queuing at the ticket machines.

By car: http://route.rac.co.uk/routeplanner.cgi?jsOption=true&lang=en_gb&qs_1=NG16+1DE&countryCode_1=UK&qs_2=SE19+2TA&countryCode_2=UK&rtype=true&rpref=true&maptype=interactive&PlanSubmit.x=65&PlanSubmit.y=10

Official Silverdale coaches depart from the Brian Clough Stand car park at 1.30pm and costs £14.

Tickets

We have been allocated 1,000 tickets for this fixture with adults costing £25, £15 senior citizens and £15 for under 16's. Tickets go on general sale from Tuesday 21st October.