Hotels for Nottingham Forest v Manchester United

Two old rivals with a long history of testy meetings, this fixture always carries a bit more edge than the league table alone would suggest. Saturday afternoon kick-offs like this one bring a full matchday build-up: pubs filling early, scarves out, the walk down to the ground swelling in the couple of hours before three o'clock.

Away support travels in numbers for this one, so expect a proper atmosphere both inside the ground and in the streets around it. Whatever the form book says beforehand, matches between these two have a habit of not going to plan.

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.