Derby County and Middlesbrough face one another today with both these sides looking entering this season with different objectives.
Derby will be aiming to stay in the Championship following their promotion from League One, while Middlesbrough sets its sights on another promotion push, after Michael Carrick’s side came up just short last time out.
How to Watch the game on TV
The match is scheduled to kick off at 12:30PM at the Pride Park Stadium in Derby, with live streaming on Sky Sports Football in the UK. You can also use Bet365 and their in play service.
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Derby County looking to replicate
Last season, Derby, under Paul Warne, finished a commendable second to Portsmouth in League One, giving the Rams automatic promotion, while Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough ended up eighth after an injury-plagued season, missing the playoff spots.
Warne’s side faced a challenging start to the new season on the road against Blackburn Rovers, but did threaten to take something back to Pride Park.
County conceded early to a goal from Tyrhys Dolan but equalized through Curtis Nelson’s header in the 70th minute, giving fans some hope.
Rovers eventually run out winners following a subsequent 12-minute goal blitz with goals from Andreas Weimann, Sammie Szmodics, and Yuki Ohashi, with Kane Wilson scoring a late consolation for Derby.
Middlesbrough FC
Middlesbrough, keen to move past last season’s disappointments, began impressively with a 1-0 victory over Swansea City.
The score belied their dominance, as they amassed 19 shots and created several clear-cut chances, with Emmanuel Latte Lath converting a 25th-minute penalty to seal the win.
Middlesbrough has carried their strong pre-season form into the new season, remaining unbeaten in their last six matches, including a clean sheet in their last three games and victories over teams like Swansea and Heerenveen.
For Derby to maintain their Championship status, replicating last season’s home form at Pride Park will be crucial.
Warne’s side were formidable at home, securing 49 points with a robust defence that conceded only 18 goals while scoring 41.
Middlesbrough should prove a stiff test this weekend with Michael Carrick looking to make it two wins out of two.
