Gavin Mahon / Gavin Mahon / 30 October 2008 / Leave a comment

Sweet talking Gavin Mahon reflects on getting away with a handball, the pressure and scrutiny modern managers come under and two great results for the Rs'. He also tips Paul Jewell's men to prevail in the Midlands derby between Brian Clough's former clubs.

If you'd offered us four points and two clean sheets against two of the top three in the division - Reading and Birmingham City - we'd have taken that this time last week.

It's hard to pick which was the better result. A goalless draw at Reading was excellent because they're flying at home. But to beat the team I support on Tuesday night, theBlues, with 10 men for the whole second half probably just about nicks it.

It's been an interesting week for us with Iain Dowie leaving and Gareth Ainsworth taking over. I thought we were excellent at Reading; kept our shape really well and stopped them doing what they wanted to. Not only that, but we dominated possession for a lot of the game.

I know Steve Coppell from Brentford days and his teams are always fantastically well organised and have a solid base to them. I got away with a handball during the match, probably because I'd been nice to the ref, sweet-talking him throughout. It clearly works, this new 'Respect' campaign...I'll have to try it a bit more often!

Tuesday night was totally different, going down to 10 men just before half-time. One of our Italian lads, Sammy Di Carmine, scored with a great strike then we dug deep and showed loads of commitment and heart to keep the lead.

I read somewhere before the midweek games that if Nottingham Forest hadn't have won at Crystal Palace, Colin Calderwood might have lost his job. It's mad how little time managers get now but that just highlights the pressure they're under to produce results, all the time.

Particularly in Colin's case, because he's been at Forest a few years now and finally got them up last season. You'd think the board would recognise it would take a while to adjust to life at a higher level but no, there's no forgiveness in this game.

From talking to previous managers, I know they're on just as much of a learning curve as the players when they step into a new division. Okay, a lot of promoted teams carry that momentum forward and start well but they can't all do it.

It's obviously taken a bit of time for Forest to get used to things this season and, in that respect, the 2-1 win at Palace in the week might just start to get things moving for them. Colin will know that it only takes three or four results on the spin to be right up there in this division, it's always the same and that's part of the attraction oI think.

You can travel to play any team, or host any team on any given weekend and, unlike the Premier League, there's no certainty what the result will be. I hear a lot of fans now saying they'd rather watch Football League matches because of that.

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Every week Betting.betfair.com's regular Premiership previewer Richard Walker chats to Gavin about the biggest of the weekend televised matches in The Championship and recommends a couple of bets based on Gavin's insight into the match.

Derby County v Nottingham Forest, Sky Sports 1, Sun Nov 2, 1.15pm

Gavin says: This local derby is going to be a lively one, for certain. We've played against both of these teams this year and, in fact, it was Derby's first win of the season when they beat us 2-0 at our place.

Just looking at their squad, it was clear to me it was only a matter of time before they got it together. The likes of Martin Albrechtsen, Rob Hulse, Jordan Stewart and Nathan Ellington all know what this division's about and how to get to get promoted out of it.

The other key factor for me is a manager who's taken two different sides into the Premier League, Paul Jewell. From lads I speak to, he's got a great way about him and seems to get the best out of players.

Kris Commons is the lad who can get Derby ticking - and because he signed from Forest in the summer, that'll add a bit of spice to the match. Forest have got some big, powerful lads and some decent types as well. I think they're in a bit of false position right now. We beat them at home but some of their play was quite impressive.

And they've got goal-getters in their squad; Rob Earnshaw, Nathan Tyson and Andy Cole's experience too. Earnshaw, in particular, is one who you can rely on to get well into double figures.

One of our keepers, Lee Camp, is on loan there at the moment. He's decent and has just got a run in the side so I hope that does his confidence some good.

Both sides like to play a bit but, ultimately, while I can see it being quite an open game I think Derby will have too much for Forest at their own place.

You've got to hand it to their fans, they got over 25,000 in when they beat Norwich. It'll be just about a full house on Sunday and I think that'll have a big impact for the home team.

Richard suggests:

Back Derby County to have slightly too much for the visitors at [1.79]

Back an open game to yield Over 2.5 goals at [1.98]

Back the Championship-proven Rob Hulse to add to his five goals this term with the First of this match at around [7.5].