Pride Park Stadium
International
Derby County got 2026 off to the perfect start after earning a hard-fought 1-0 win over Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship at Pride Park Stadium.
Bobby Clark’s first league goal for the Rams gave John Eustace’s side all three points to move Derby back into the top half of the table.
The Rams also had goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström to thank for the win and the clean sheet, with the Swedish shot-stopper making several key saves to keep high-flyers Boro at bay.
Zetterström was called into action early on. Hayden Hackney and Delano Burgzorg exchanged a neat one-two on the edge of the Derby penalty area, but the former was denied by Zetterström - who made himself big to prevent Boro’s skipper from opening the scoring.
The Swede was left sprawling moments later as Callum Brittain’s through ball - miskicked by Tommy Conway - almost trickled in at the back post, before Dion Sanderson did well to block a goal-bound effort from Morgan Whittaker.
Derby’s first real foray forwards almost produced the goods. Callum Elder advanced to the byline and turned in a devilish cross, which was well averted by Boro defender Matt Targett.
Zetterström made his second impressive stop of the half to deny Conway on the volley, following good work down the right by Brittain. Burgzorg then fired wide on the turn as the visitors pushed further for the game’s first goal.
The returning Joe Ward came close to putting Derby ahead on the verge of the half-time whistle but saw his 25-yard curling free-kick turned behind by Sol Brynn.
The second half began in similar fashion to the first, as Middlesbrough enjoyed more of the goalmouth action, as Dutch forward Burgzorg came close twice in as many minutes.
First, he cut inside and curled towards the far corner, only for Zetterström to beat the ball clear. Less than 60 seconds later, he threatened again but rippled the side netting with a low drive towards the near post.
It sparked the Rams into life. Clark’s clever feint took him past Aidan Morris to lay off to Elder, whose first-time ball into the left channel set Patrick Agyemang away. The United States international raced onto the pass but couldn’t poke home the ball beyond the onrushing Brynn.
Showcasing an increased attacking spark as the half developed, Derby were then rewarded with the game’s only goal on the 70-minute mark, converted by Clark.
Matt Clarke recycled possession by finding Elder, who fired the ball into the feet of substitute Lars-Jørgen Salvesen. The ball fell kindly for RB Salzburg loanee Clark, who proceeded to cut inside past Targett and tuck home to send Pride Park into raptures.
The away side pressed for a leveller, but Zetterström was there again to block Brittain’s strike after a cute pass round the corner from Hackney played Boro’s number two in on goal.
Substitute Ben Brereton Díaz came close to a second through a curling effort from the edge of the box, before he met Elder’s cross on the volley to threaten again as the clock ticked beyond 90.
Middlesbrough probed further but the Rams defence stood firm to see out seven minutes of stoppage time and claim a vital three points.
Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Clarke, Langås, Agyemang (Salvesen 59), Brewster (Brereton Díaz 59), Thompson, Elder, Ward, Sanderson, Adams (C), Clark (Weimann 78).
Unused Substitutes: O’Donnell (GK), Forsyth, Batth, Blackett-Taylor, Jackson, Travis.
Middlesbrough: Brynn (GK), Brittain (Silvera 76), Targett, Hackney (C), Conway (Hamilton 87), Burgzorg, Whittaker, Ayling, Morris (Nypan 76), Sene (Gilbert 46), Bangura (Browne 87).
Unused Substitutes: McLaughlin (GK), Hansen, Kanté, Baptiste.
30,266 (including 3,111 Middlesbrough supporters).
Derby will look to make it back-to-back wins on home soil when they take on Wrexham at Pride Park Stadium on Sunday 4th January (3pm kick-off).
