Aiming to build on their EFL Cup success in the week, Derby County will fight for their maiden victory of the Championship season as they welcome an in-form Middlesbrough side to Pride Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Rams suffered a losing start on their return to the second tier last weekend, whereas Boro recorded a narrow win over Swansea City to commence their competitive schedule.
Match preview
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Taking to the field in the Championship following a two-year absence, Derby County were unable to earn anything tangible from their trip to Ewood Park last Friday night, when second-half strikes from Curtis Nelson and Kane Wilson were mere consolations during a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Blackburn Rovers.
The Rams showcased all the frailties of a newly-promoted outfit as Tyrhys Dolan, Andreas Weimann, Yuki Ohashi and last season's Golden Boot winner Sammie Szmodics breached the net of Josh Vickers, with the East Midlands side conceding four in a competitive match for the first time since February 2023.
A positive in the midst of defeat in Lancashire for Derby was veteran winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who provided two assists on the opening weekend, with the 32-year-old set to be a key offensive force following the exits of last season's heroes Conor Hourihane and Martyn Waghorn.
The pressure was beginning to increase ten-fold on Rams manager Paul Warne on Tuesday night when Chesterfield's Armando Dobra opened the scoring in a first-round EFL Cup clash at Pride Park, but the Championship hosts spared their blushes and advanced to the next stage courtesy of strikes from Liam Thompson and substitute Kayden Jackson.
Derby will need to make Pride Park a fortress this season if they wish to avoid an immediate return to League One, with the Midlands outfit cutting a formidable figure during home matches in the 2023-24 term, in which they only conceded 18 goals across 23 third-tier contests.
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With the first week of competitive action completed in the 2024-25 schedule, Middlesbrough have passed Championship and EFL Cup tests versus Swansea City and Leeds United respectively with flying colours, making the net ripple on four occasions and keeping clean sheets in both games.
Tipped to challenge amongst the division's elite marksmen for the Golden Boot this year, Emmanuel Latte Lath held his nerve from 12 yards out to open his account and secure maximum points on the opening Saturday of the second-tier campaign against Luke Williams's Swans.
Next it was the turn of Boro's fringe players to shine on Wednesday night at Elland Road, where second-half goals from Anfernee Dijksteel, summer signing Delano Burgzorg and striker Josh Coburn sealed a surprise 3-0 win at the home of Daniel Farke's Leeds in the EFL Cup.
It was a momentous night in Yorkshire for right-back Dijksteel as he scored his first goal for Middlesbrough since joining five years ago from Charlton Athletic, with the industrious 27-year-old going 131 matches without finding the back of the net previously, to the disbelief of most Boro supporters.
With a £4.5m move for Bristol City marksman Tommy Conway edging closer to completion, Coburn's impressive display at Elland Road will massively boost his chances of first-team minutes at the Riverside this term, although the youngster could be on his way out of the club before the conclusion of the summer window.
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Team News
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Derby are hoping to have winger Corey Blackett-Taylor back in training in the build-up to the weekend, although it remains to be seen whether the permanent summer signing plays a part at Pride Park.
Ebou Adams picked up a slight injury during the loss at Ewood Park last weekend, meaning that the midfielder could miss the visit of Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Coming on for the final four minutes of the defeat against Blackburn, Tyrese Fornah has since moved to League Two Salford City on a season-long loan.
The Rams remain without the services of Blackpool loanee Jerry Yates, who is still suspended following a red card for Swansea on the final day of last season.
Middlesbrough are expected to hand a Championship debut to Micah Hamilton, who joined on a permanent deal from Manchester City earlier this month.
Michael Carrick will revert to his strongest XI for the trip to Pride Park, so expect the likes of Luke Ayling, Finn Azaz and Thomas Glover to be promoted from the bench following the EFL Cup win on Wednesday.
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Vickers; Wilson, Nelson, Cashin, Elder; Goudmijn, Ozoh, Osborn; Collins, Mendez-Laing, Jackson
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Ayling, Clarke, Van den Berg, Engel; McGree, Hackney; Jones, Morris, Azaz; Lath
We say: Derby County 1-3 Middlesbrough
Derby were defensively naive during their opening match against Blackburn last Friday, and such a display once again will lead to the same result.
Middlesbrough have arguably been the standout performer in the EFL so far this season, and Carrick's troops should have enough firepower to record maximum points in the Midlands on Saturday.
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Carter White
