Hotels for Nottingham Forest v Coventry City

Fixtures like this carry an edge that has little to do with league position, built on decades of rivalry between two clubs separated by barely thirty miles. Expect a full concourse well before the teams emerge, flags and chanting from both ends, and a crowd that treats the result as mattering far beyond three points. The atmosphere tends to spill out into the surrounding streets long after the final whistle.

Nottingham Forest's most remarkable years came under Brian Clough, who arrived in 1975 and built, from a mid-table Second Division side, a first-ever English league title in 1977-78 followed by back-to-back European Cup wins. Forest lifted the trophy in 1979 and retained it in 1980, beating Hamburg 1-0 in the final in Madrid on a goal from John Robertson.

Sometimes known as the Tricky Trees, Forest's City Ground sits on the banks of the Trent, and that Clough-era run of success remains the high-water mark the club has spent decades since trying to recapture.

Nottingham Forest's home sits on the banks of the River Trent, one of English football's most characterful settings, with Trent Bridge cricket ground almost directly across the water. The riverside location is a pleasant pre-match walk, with pubs and green space close by, and the city centre a short stroll over the bridge.

Nottingham station and the tram are within easy reach. Staying in the centre lets you enjoy the riverside atmosphere and avoid the crowds pressing onto transport at full time.