Middlesbrough will encounter Paul Warne’s Derby County for the first time on Saturday, August 16th in an anticipated clash. Boro, led by Michael Carrick, began their 2024/25 campaign impressively, starting with a 1-0 victory over Swansea City where Emmanuel Latte Lath opened his scoring account for the year.

Their midweek League Cup match against Leeds United at Elland Road presented a tough challenge. Despite early dominance from Leeds, goals from Anfernee Dijksteel, Delano Burgzorg, and Josh Coburn secured a 3-0 victory for Middlesbrough. This win marked the first time since 2018 that they defeated their local rivals.

The impressive performance against Leeds has boosted Carrick and his squad’s confidence as they prepare to face Derby County this weekend. With Paul Warne taking the reins at Derby in 2022 and their recent promotion to the Championship, Boro fans are intrigued about what to expect from their upcoming opponents.

A Derby County expert, Luke Thrower, analyzed Derby’s recent 4-2 defeat to Blackburn, attributing the loss to moments of naivety within Warne’s team. Despite the setback, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing emerged as a potent threat, setting up both Derby’s goals in the game. Thrower highlighted Derby’s reliance on corners and set-pieces for scoring opportunities, emphasizing Mendez-Laing’s influence and Kenzo Goudmijn’s impact as key factors for the team.

Regarding Derby’s primary vulnerability, he remarked, “Currently, Derby seems to struggle with their defensive formation when without possession. The players’ eagerness to press and regain the ball often creates significant openings in the midfield that opponents can capitalize on.” Despite the confidence of most Middlesbrough supporters in their team’s chances of victory this weekend, Thrower foresaw a 1-1 draw at Derbyshire.