Derby County v Nottingham Forest: Who has the loudest fanbase? AI decides | OneFootball

AI chatbot ChatGPT decides who has the loudest fanbase between Nottingham Forest and Derby County.

When it comes to rivalries in English football, not many carry the same historical value that the East Midlands derby between Nottingham Forest and Derby County does.

And while the sides won't be meeting in the league this year, and haven't since Forest's promotion year in 2022, the debate between the two fanbases never goes quiet.

Both clubs are steeped in an intertwining history with Brian Clough at the centre of it, and both sets of supporters have had their fair share of ups and downs on the banks of the River Trent at the City Ground and Pride Park.

To offer something to the debate between the two sets of supporters, Football League World has asked popular AI service ChatGPT to weigh in and compare both sets of supporters based on volume and their respective atmosphere.

Here's what AI has to say.

AI verdict: Forest take the win, but only marginally

Keeping up a record stretching back to 2017, Nottingham Forest remain unbeaten against Derby. And much like their last result against the Rams, a 2-1 win in 2022, Forest narrowly snatched the win.

ChatGPT said: "While Derby fans remain incredibly vocal, especially in derby matches and promotion pushes, Forest's recent top-flight exposure has seemingly raised the bar when it comes to volume."

AI also took into account the away following of the Garibaldi, which has earned plaudits across the top-flight since their ascent in 2022, and has continued to shift through the gears as Forest earned a European place ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 campaign.

According to Transfermarkt, Forest sit 15th in the Premier League when it comes to their average attendance of 30,076 in the City Ground, which has a capacity of 30,404.

Picking up 65 points last term, Nuno Espírito Santo's men picked up 32 of those at home, while they had the third-best away record in the Premier League behind Liverpool and Arsenal, picking up 33 points on their travels.

After a sensational campaign, Forest supporters now look forward to European nights at the City Ground for the first time since 1995.

Don't count out Derby

While both clubs have had their tumultuous periods throughout the 21st century, it was just three years ago that Derby supporters feared that they could lose their club as a whole.

However, after suffering relegation to League One, supporters rallied better than ever, with an average attendance of over 27,000 in the third tier compared to 23,010 during their relegation year.

This figure remains stable, with the Rams pulling an average of 28,876 in the Championship last term, with Pride Park's capacity sitting at 33,597.

Despite not tasting the Premier League and now European football like their rivals in recent years, Derby supporters have rallied behind their club in recent times of crisis and are now reaping the rewards as they stabilise back in the Championship.

AI argues that on their day, Pride Park can peak higher than the City Ground: "If you're judging by emotion, Derby fans make a strong case. Pride Park has hosted some unforgettable atmospheres, particularly when Nottingham Forest come to town."

After a season of settling back down into the Championship, Derby have made smart additions thus far in the window, and aim to push further towards the mid-table area under John Eustace in the upcoming term.

A razor-thin result that keeps the rivalry burning

Debates about topics such as these have, and will continue to, carry on between supporters forever. However, when it comes to Nottingham Forest and Derby County, both clubs not only carry similar histories in terms of the figures at both clubs, but also with the fact that they have been in the same league 76 times.

Often fighting for the same purpose in the EFL during the 21st century, supporters of both clubs have had to find any chance they can get to send digs to each other, and now the lack of meetings for three years will leave both sets with a point to prove to each other all over again when they next clash.

Forest narrowly snatch the head-to-head result, with 43 wins compared to Derby's 38. And as the wait goes on until the sides meet in any division or cup competition, the tension will only continue to grow stronger.