1995–96 Nottingham Forest F.C. season 1995–96 Nottingham Forest F.C. season During the 1995–96 English football season, Nottingham Forest competed in the FA Premier League. Nottingham Forest were expected to struggle following the sale of star striker Stan Collymore to Liverpool, but they performed reasonably well throughout the season and there was never any question of them being relegated. They were unbeaten from their first 12 league games, although they drew too many games to be considered serious title challengers, before they ran into a 7–0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers, who had just signed Forest midfielder Lars Bohinen. The biggest success of the season was Forest's
Derby County F.C.–Nottingham Forest F.C. rivalry which was Derby's second First Division title in four seasons. Brian Clough managed Derby County between June 1967 and October 1973, winning the Second Division title to gain promotion in 1968–69, and winning the First Division title in 1971–72. This was followed up by a controversial European Cup semi final loss to Juventus during the 1972–73 season. Clough joined Nottingham Forest in January 1975, following spells with Brighton and the famous 44 days in charge at Leeds Utd. Clough took over from Mackay's initial replacement Allan Brown, with Forest struggling in the Second Division. In 1977–78, Forest won the First