Boro v Derby
Saturday 29th November 2025
Riverside Stadium
K.O 3:00 p.m.
Welcome to the match preview Diasborians, but before we get into it, a few words from someone who knows both these clubs well...
Now then, this is an interesting game between two of my former clubs. One that’s on the rise and one that’s stuttering which is something I never did! I remember in the old days, walking from my mother’s council house in Grove Hill, through Albert Park and down Ayresome Street into the Boro ground. It’s all changed now is football. Fancy stadiums, slippers for boots, doctors and physios where will it end? Old Sam at Derby would have had a heart attack at the money that’s being spent!
One thing folk don’t realise, is that players lose you games, not tactics. There's so much crap talked about tactics by people who barely know how to win at dominoes. I’ve looked at this Boro team and without naming names, some of the players haven't got enough heart to fill a thimble. Now it’s going to be curious to see how this new manager of yours performs with this team. Like I’ve always said, good managers make good sides. There’s no such thing as a side making a manager! I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one!”
I like this goalkeeper of yours Sol Brynn. I long ago realised the futility of scoring goals at one end while letting them in at the other. I used to call my goalkeeper Mark Crossley ‘Jigsaw’ why? Because when the ball came near him he went to pieces. On a final note: My wife said to me in bed, 'God, your feet are cold.' I said, 'You can call me Brian in bed, dear'...
On a mission to record their first victory under the guidance of our new head coach, Kim Hellberg, Boro welcome in-form Derby County to the Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the Championship.
Ado Viveash, who’s led the team in a caretaker capacity so well for the last three games, will move back to being an assistant now. He has had to negotiate not only a tumultuous period for the club after Rob Edwards’ exit, but also an injury crisis as far as the squad is concerned.
Unfortunately, Boro suffered a rare Teesside defeat at the hands of Coventry City last time out, whilst the Rams' impressive form on the road continued at the South Wales base of Swansea City.
After missing out on the top six in the Championship by four points during the 2024-25 season, Middlesbrough are making a real go of fighting for an automatic promotion place this time around, although the mid-campaign departure of Rob Edwards has threatened to disrupt their momentum.
Boro have now won just one of their last six matches in the second tier after an unfortunate 4-2 loss to pacesetters Coventry on Tuesday night, when Ellis Simms and Liam Kitching both bagged braces for the Sky Blues.
Boro had over 70% possession and Coventry for 40 minutes were given an absolute lesson in how to play the beautiful game. Then Coventry showed Boro how to finish and Tommy shinned that over the bar. We need a big physical striker like Elis Simms or Kiefer Moore somebody who knows where the net is and does not panic in front of goal. 5 goals from all our strikers in 17 games is simply not going to get you automatic promotion. I feel that Coventry were lucky to get 4 goals to line up how they did....its highly unusual for 4 goals to be scored out of 5 chances and be battered all game....there is definitely a hint of good fortune that went their way Then after so much possession, Coventry put two long passes into our box and we get the hammering. We all know what we need as we were playing without really recognised centre backs against the best attack in the league. Let’s face
If we had had two good centre halves at the back like Boam and Maddren [yes I watched them] then, Boro 3-1 Coventry. But that's football.
Looking to post only their second league victory since the end of October, Boro are still sitting in a respectable third spot in the Championship tableahead of this weekend's hosting of Derby, level on points with second-placed Stoke City but 10 points behind Frank Lampard's trailblazers in first.
I was disappointed that Boro's seven-game unbeaten run at the Riverside came to a sobering end when the Sky Blues visited earlier in the week, however it is not the first time that we have lost at home by four goals this term, with Doncaster Rovers running out convincing winners during an EFL Cup clash back in August.
Finding the net in the first half last time out, Morgan Whittaker is now up to four Championship strikes for the season, with the former Plymouth Argyle marksman beginning to find his best form after a troublesome start to life following a January move from the Pilgrims of Devon. I’m still not impressed with his work ethic though and his inability to track back and help out the defence when runners are breaking though from opposing teams.
Following their survival in the Championship by just a single point at the end of the last season, Derby are one of the surprise packages of the current second-tier schedule, with the East Midlands outfit threatening to compete in the upper echelons of the division this time around.
After a shock home defeat to Watford on the weekend, the Rams showcased their powers of recovery at the home of Swansea on Tuesday night, when goals either side of the half-time whistle from wing-back Joe Ward and Norwegian marksman Lars-Jorgen Salvesen secured maximum points for the visitors.
Victorious in six of their last seven Championship battles, Derby are being guided brilliantly by Championship stalwart John Eustace and currently occupy eighth spot in the second-tier rankings, one point behind the playoffs and just four points back from Stoke in second.
Remarkably, the Rams have collected 14 of their 26 points away from Pride Park so far this term, with Saturday's visitors winning each of their last three Championship outings, a run which includes success at Sheffield United on November 1.
Leading the way at the top of the division's Golden Boot race alongside Coventry's Brandon Thomas-Asante with 10 strikes, Carlton Morris has been a key man at the top end of the pitch for Derby, however the 29-year-old is now potentially set to miss a large chunk of the campaign.
Statistics
Middlesbrough Championship form: D L D W D L
Derby County Championship form: W W W W L W
A key part of the Boro midfield, Aidan Morris is expected to be sidelined on Saturday because of an injury.
As a result, Alan Browne is likely to partner Hayden Hackney at the base of midfield, freeing up a place in the attacking line-up.
However, that spot is unlikely to be filled by David Strelec, with the Slovakia star picking up a muscular problem during the international break.
On a positive note it is rumoured that Boro will welcome Dael Fry back to the fold. It has been obvious for the last few games that the lack of height in the Boro defence has led to increased pressure and conceded goals from opponents.
The Rams' options at the top end of the pitch are reduced further by the absence of Rhian Brewster, who is recovering from a muscle issue.
Meanwhile, off the pitch, there has been a lot of speculation over a change of ownership at Pride Park, with current Botafogo and former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor linked with a takeover of the East Midlands outfit. the American businessman would be aiming to use his connections in Brazil to bolster the Derby squad, moving over young Panamanian striker Jose Kadir Barria and Vokonbian midfielder Jordan Barrera to Pride Park.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Brynn; Brittain, Ayling, Jones, Silvera; Browne, Hackney, Whittaker, Hansen, Burgzorg; Sene
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Zetterstrom; Langas, Batth, Clarke; Ward, Clark, Adams, Elder; Agyemang, Brereton Diaz, Salvesen
So after writing the preview I feel quite optimistic for a
BORO3 Derby O
OFB
Thanks OFB and well done for putting together a starter at the moment. I fancy us to win on Saturday although who’ll score our goal(s) is anyone’s guess.
1-0 to the boys in red, for me.
Thanks for that, OFB. If only we could have a Brian Clough in the dugout. Maybe we have a young Swedish version making his debut for the Derby match.
I'd like to see Sene get a start. It's not as if others up front are on a scoring streak!
Boro 3. Is that the red wine speaking ...?
Thanks for the opener OFB. Should be another good game. As you stated they pick up a lot of points away from home. They are 4th in the season away table and we are 5th in the home table. Just noticed an odd fact in the away table Blackburn are second having picked up 15 points from 9 games, they only have 19 in total. Derby have two ex Boro players in their squad Matt Clarke and Danny Barth as well as serial scorer against us, Andy Weimann. The referee on Saturday is James Linington who does not referee us often but in 2023 was the ref who sent Dael Fry off at Sunderland. Of the manager appointed at Middlesbrough this century only Edwards and Warnock won their first game in charge, there have been 13 managers this century.
Given your current circumstances, OFB, I think you’ve done wonders to produce such a fine starter. Well done! It’s full of helpful information and analysis of the two clubs’ situations. I really loved the Cloughie scenarios! Very funny!
Somehow, we’re still in the top 3. But have you noticed that the rest are catching up? Coventry apart, there’s now a real bunching-up of clubs at the top end of our league, with just 6 points separating Stoke in second from Leicester in 15th. Basically, any side that goes on a reasonable run will very quickly find themselves launched into the top 6 or even the top 2. It’s therefore paramount that Boro pick up maximum points in as many of the forthcoming games as possible, starting on Saturday.
But can our forwards get past the twin towers of Baath and Clarke and stick the ball a couple of times into that rectangular white thing at the end of the pitch? Let’s hope so. There were many positive signs against Coventry and we put them under significant pressure. If we play as well against Derby, we should win. I don’t expect Hellberg to have changed much in his short time in charge, though.
I wouldn’t play Burgzorg, OFB. Hansen played very well in his short cameo on Tuesday, so deserves a start. And Tommy will be itching to get back on the pitch to make amends for miss of the season. I’d back him to score in this one.
A lovely opener, Bob. Imaginative, funny and informative. Great to have such a different take. One of the glories of the blog. Many thanks especially at such an anxious time
"If only we could have Brian Clough in our dugout", says Dormo.
Jt only we could have Cloughie as our centre forward, says I.
He averaged a goal a game throughout his brilliant playing career.
If he went on as long a scoreless run as our current strikers, he would be due to score around 13 goals on Saturday
Great idea to get Brian in on the act OFB, and well done young man (to borrow a phrase) for an amusing and informative preview - this sounds like another tricky home game against another side in form and probably not the ideal start for Hellberg - though if Boro win it will be.
Can't see too much change other than forced ones but I suspect Conway might still start as Hellberg is keen on winning possession back and defending high - which are two of his main assets and if he could only put the ball in the net then he's be the first name on any teamsheet.
Still if Boro play anywhere near the way they did against Coventry they should win this one - they certainly need to!
Just like Hellberg, Clough was also young into management after starting at Hartlepool at 30 years old - so at 37 he's already something of a veteran as Clough won the old Second Division with Derby at 34.
Thanks OFB for a rib tickling and informative opener. “The God your feet are cold” had me laughing out loud.
This match could be as difficult for us as Tuesday night. Eustace is a wily old fox and has shown how to frustrate us in the past when at Blackburn, added to which his players confidence just be sky high.
I expect then to adopt either a high press or low block and try and hit us on the break and it may well be a tight game with only one goal in it, hopefully to us. 😎
Been expecting to see this preview for a a day or so, but only just found it, as it appears to be in the wrong forum (last season's - didn't think to scroll down earlier)! Perhaps Werder could move it?
Ipswich would have gone second tonight if they’d won at Oxford, which would have pushed us down to fourth. Instead, Oxford surprisingly beat them 2-1. Result!
Come on Boro! Let’s make the most of this result in our favour by taking three points off the Rams!
Oxford are a real bogey team for Ipswich, they have never won and away game against them. Ipswich had over 73% possession.
Been expecting to see this preview for a a day or so, but only just found it, as it appears to be in the wrong forum (last season's - didn't think to scroll down earlier)! Perhaps Werder could move it?
Sorry Mia culpa !
I’m sure Werder can sort it.
i only look at recent posts to see what’s happening and follow that !
Hope you managed to catch up with all the posts
OFB
Many thanks Bob for another cracking opener.
Hoping we’ll have another new manager bounce today with some swashbuckling Boro attacking play overcoming Derby’s boring block.
PS I always use “unread posts” to see the latest - ensures you get all the latest posts whatever thread they’re in so long as you’re logged in. I recommend it!
I've Just moved the Derby preview to the correct season 🙂
Actually, I've got to also remove Rob Edwards and install Kim Hellberg as manager on the home page too - I'll try to find time this weekend.
Certainly a welcome surprise to see Ipswich lose at Oxford that ended their six-game unbeaten run with 14 points - though the table is looking very tight with only 5 points between 15th and 2nd - this is a crucial part of the season that may well define how the promotion race shapes up!
I should add that Boro have picked up the fewest points in the last 6 games than any other team in the top 15 - so three points today is imperative!
I'm not sure if Andy R will score today - but maybe Conway might 😉
@werdermouth 🎵Andy R, he’s one of our own🎵
Sorry Mia culpa !
I’m sure Werder can sort it.
i only look at recent posts to see what’s happening and follow that !
Hope you managed to catch up with all the posts
OFB
No worries. Caught up in the end & Werder has duly come up trumps.
P.S. the amateur proof-reader in me won't let me overlooks this: it's "mea culpa"! 😉
@werdermouth if Andy is fit and available I would love to see him bag a goal.
Bangura back in the line-up:
CJ:
Detailed Boro team news
Four changes from Hellberg then. Targett, Bangura, Hansen and Burgzorg come in for Ayling, Silvera, Morris, McGree. No Ayling or Morris in the squad at all, both due to knocks.
That means it looks like Targett will start at centre-back alongside Jones, with Bangura at left-back. It's Bangura's first competitive start since the first leg of the Chelsea cup semi final on January 9, 2024. His last Championship start came in December 2023.
Looks like the new man is going with a 4-2-3-1. Likely be Whittaker right, Hansen 10 and Burgzorg left. He sticks with Conway too.
David Strelec back on the bench after injury, while Hamilton makes the squad for the first time in a long time. Under-21 centre-back Archie Baptiste, who joined in the summer from Tottenham, makes Boro's bench too.
Hull have beaten Stoke. We need to win today.
Andy didn't even make the bench 😉
Well Boro off to good start 🙄 - defensively Boro are down to bare bones
@werdermouth. That’s the curse of HH’s captaincy striking again! 🙁
CJ's view of the first half:
Boro couldn't have wished for a worse start. Punished after just two minutes and riding their luck a few times, with Derby threatening on the counter. Hellberg wants expansive football. Boro unlucky not to be level after Brittain hit the bar, but Derby tough to break down, as you'd expect.