NOTTINGHAM FOREST HISTORY
30 August, 1989

Pearce winner settles Derby clash

On this day in Nottingham Forest history in 1989 Forest beat Derby County 2–1 at the City Ground in a First Division derby.

Rivalry and derby lore

Defining rivalry moment
Stuart Pearce, former Forest player and manager.
Stuart Pearce, former Forest player and manager. Image: Austin Osuide / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nottingham Forest came from behind to beat Derby County 2–1 at the City Ground in a First Division East Midlands derby.

Derby matches rarely needed extra meaning, and this one gave Forest another home victory over their rivals. The contest was remembered not just for the result, but for the players who shaped the comeback.

Stuart Pearce, former Forest player and manager.
Stuart Pearce, former Forest player and manager. Image: Austin Osuide / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Steve Hodge own goal put Derby ahead, before Gary Crosby brought Forest level and Stuart Pearce completed the comeback with the winner. That clear comeback sequence gave the match the kind of sharp derby storyline supporters remember.

The win added another strong City Ground chapter to the rivalry during Brian Clough’s later years in charge. For supporters, a Pearce winner against Derby had exactly the kind of clarity a derby memory needs.

Sources

11v11; London Hearts; English Football Stats

Explore more Nottingham Forest history

Browse the timeline to discover more events from this day and beyond:

AUGUST
18
Notts County 0–2 Nottingham Forest
22
Nottingham Forest 3–0 Blackburn
26
Vitória SC 1–1 Nottingham Forest
31
Portimonense 1–2 Nottingham Forest Sporting CP 4–1 Nottingham Forest
8
Udinese 1–0 Nottingham Forest Barcelona 1–0 Nottingham Forest
12
Nottingham Forest 2–1 Bayer Leverkusen
16
Nottingham Forest 2–0 Stade Brestois 29
22
Nottingham Forest 0–1 Leeds
25
Nottingham Forest 0–2 Leeds
29
Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest
5
Nottingham Forest 0–0 Tottenham
12
Aston Villa 1–2 Nottingham Forest
19
Nottingham Forest 0–1 Coventry
11
Crystal Palace 14:00 Nottingham Forest
18
Nottingham Forest 16:30 Arsenal
23
Ipswich 20:00 Nottingham Forest
31
Brentford 15:00 Nottingham Forest
7
Nottingham Forest 17:30 Manchester City
21
Bournemouth 15:00 Nottingham Forest
27
Nottingham Forest 20:00 Chelsea
2
Hull City 20:00 Nottingham Forest
5
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brighton
12
Sunderland 15:00 Nottingham Forest
19
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Everton
27
Manchester United 16:30 Nottingham Forest
30
Newcastle 19:30 Nottingham Forest
2
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Fulham
5
Nottingham Forest 19:30 Hull City
16
Manchester City 15:00 Nottingham Forest
23
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Bournemouth
30
Chelsea 15:00 Nottingham Forest
6
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brentford
10
Fulham 20:00 Nottingham Forest
20
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Manchester United
27
Everton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
3
Nottingham Forest 20:00 Newcastle
13
Tottenham 15:00 Nottingham Forest
20
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Aston Villa
10
Leeds 15:00 Nottingham Forest
17
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Liverpool
24
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Sunderland
1
Brighton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
8
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Crystal Palace
15
Arsenal 15:00 Nottingham Forest
23
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Ipswich
30
Coventry 16:00 Nottingham Forest