Derby County

A new episode of BBC Radio Derby's Rams Weekly podcast is now available.

Malcolm Christie, Dominic Dietrich and Ed Dawes discuss the highs and lows of Derby County's season so far, injuries and much more.

Listen above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Amelia Warren
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Sometimes in football there are moments where drawing feels like winning.

Derby have had a disappointing start to the season so far, winning only one game out of a possible eight, drawing twice, and losing five.

The Rams' position in the league table going into the first international break of the season isn't ideal, despite it probably being a fair reflection of how they have performed in both boxes so far this campaign, with a minus seven goal difference only backing that up.

Every club wants to take momentum into an extended break, but when you're in and around the bottom three, getting a result for the morale and confidence of the team feels extra important.

Derby have shown resilience at times this season, but Saturday felt different.

Despite having more shots, shots on target, and creating greater clear-cut chances than fellow strugglers Burnley, the Rams found themselves staring down the barrel of a fourth-straight defeat and going into the international break rock bottom of the Championship.

Step forward Mohammed Fuseini.

For the longest time Derby have been crying out for pace on the wings.

Patrick Agyemang offered Derby something raw and slightly different last season, but was always more about power and physicality than just pace.

Since signing on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise on deadline day, Fuseini has been one of Derby's brightest sparks.

Whilst his end product hasn't been consistently brilliant so far, his fearless attacking approach, confidence to beat his man, desire to get shots on goal, and willingness to utilise his pace to stretch defences and make runs in behind are attributes that have been there for all to see.

It goes without saying when you're in a bit of a rot, you need someone in your team who has the ability to produce a moment of magic and get supporters on their feet.

Fuseini absolutely brings that.

Saturday felt like the perfect example of how important his presence, particularly off the bench, is going to be throughout the season.

Bringing a player on who is that explosive will be an absolute nightmare for opposition full-backs, especially when they're tiring towards the end of matches.

You can only imagine the more he gets used to the new environment, new team-mates, and John Eustace's playing style, the more confident and valuable he will become.

When the Rams get players back to full fitness throughout the campaign, they have the ability to utilise both Fuseini, and Agyemang, on either flank.

With Carlton Morris as the number nine, and those two either side of him, you can see Derby becoming quite the force to be reckoned with in an attacking sense later on in the season.

Here and now though, Fuseini's sensational strike to secure Derby a last-gasp point has turned despair into hope.

Providing the team and its supporters with positives to hold on to throughout the interval, alongside a feeling that the Rams can kickstart a revival when the next block of fixtures begin on 10 October.

You can often catch Amelia Warren, external as a guest on BBC Radio Derby.

Don't forget to tap the 'follow' button at the top of this page to stay up to date with the latest Derby County news.

We asked for your thoughts after Derby County came back to snatch a point late-on and deny Burnley their first win of the season at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Here are some of your comments:

Burnley fans

Paul: Very poor, uninspiring performance against a poor team.

Mike: You go hire a manager who's been at 12 clubs in 13 years, no experience in English football and you expect him to rebuild a side in the Championship to survive in the Premier League. Alan Pace needs to give head a good hard shake. Team seems to have little or no direction.

Michael: We seemed to be holding tight until the strange 90th minute substitution by Hayen that took off a left-back who had had a good game and brought on another right back. Two minutes later and the guy our left back had kept at bay for almost the whole game suddenly finds himself unmarked with a quarter of the pitch to himself. Nerves are bound to be there but what a strange sub to make.

Gav: My view is give it 10 games as Hayen had limited pre-season and a completely new squad. You can still get play offs with 36 games to go. That said, the chopping and changing and lack of structure is a worry. I have no idea how we play and it's difficult to see what the plan is. This is on the board.

Mark: Hopeless. Hayen definitely out of his depth, needs to go and now, his substitutions made no sense and were awful. I think if Hayen stays we're down. Team seem to not want to play for him, the only highlight was that we managed to score from a set-piece.

Image source, Getty Images

Derby County fans

Per: Much improved, good point in the end and we could even had won the game. Sammie Szmodics was outstanding and Fuseini's pace is just what this team needs!

Tim: Take the point, but we're not setting the division alight right now. Ozoh is a class apart, but the team lacks clear attacking intent. That said great goal at the death.

Philip: Pathetic. I have followed Derby since 1965, this is by far the worst Rams (more like Lambs) team I have ever seen.

John: Small acorns at the moment. Better structure and attractive movements. If their home form can improve then a safe midtable position is possible before Christmas. Top eight is a long stretch given the money available.

Tim W: I've found some real hope for this side since the new signings. Ozoh is immense, and great having some speed in the team with Fuseini - best finish I've seen from Derby in ages (and best celebration!).

Image source, Shutterstock

Derby defender Eiran Cashin is facing two months on the sidelines with a calf injury.

Cashin returned to Pride Park at the start of this month on a loan deal from Brighton for the rest of the season, having started his career at the club and previously playing 144 games.

He started in the defeats to West Brom and Birmingham, playing almost the full 90 minutes in both for the Rams, but was absent from their matchday squad against Burnley.

"Cash is out now for about eight weeks, he's done his calf," manager John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby.

Derby County manager John Eustace spoke to BBC Radio Derby after Mo Fuseini scored a stoppage-time equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Defender Eiran Cashin says Derby County still "feels like home" after returning to the club on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The 24-year-old left the Rams in January 2025 for the Premier League side on a £9m deal and has since gone out on loan to Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers in the Championship.

His latest temporary switch has him back at Pride Park with his boyhood club, where he previously featured 144 times after emerging from the Rams' academy in 2021.

"There is something special about being at Pride Park – it's the best feeling," Cashin told BBC East Midlands Today.

"It feels like home, to be honest. I feel so proud to put the shirt on."

You can see more from Cashin, and what Rams boss John Eustace has to say about the defender, in the video piece above from BBC East Midlands Today's Charlie Slater.

Losing goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom until late October with a knee injury has come as a "big blow" to Derby County, says head coach John Eustace.

The injury to the Sweden international was originally thought to rule Derby's number one out for two months, but Eustace put a shorter time frame of "five or six weeks" on his absence.

"He's not in a good way," Eustace told BBC Radio Derby.

"It's a big blow to the team, a big blow to us and to him."

With Derby having gone without the Swede because of illness for a number of weeks last season, Eustace says he has reason to have faith in the goalkeepers he still has available in Josh Vickers and Richard O'Donnell

"Josh or Rich will step up now," he said. "They didn't let us down last season and I'm sure they won't again this season.

I'm delighted with the goalkeeping unit. I think over the past 18 months their development has been fantastic. And whoever steps in will be ready."

Click the play button above to listen to more from Eustace as he looks ahead to Saturday's trip to Burnley.

Burnley continue their search for a first league win since beating Crystal Palace on 11 February while their last league victory at home was against Leeds United on 18 October 2025.

Derby County are also struggling but their last win did come on the road at Portsmouth.

• Burnley remain unbeaten in 14 league meetings with Derby County (W9 D5) since a 1-0 defeat in January 2007.

• Derby County are winless in nine league visits to Burnley (D4 L5) since a 2-0 victory in October 2004 under George Burley.

• Burnley remain winless in 19 league matches (D7 L12); only once in their history have they gone 20+ without victory, a run of 24 from April to November 1979.

• Derby have lost each of their past three league games, last losing more in a row in February 2025 (7).

• Derby's Jacob Widell Zetterström has made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the Championship so far this season (28), while ranking third for goals prevented (2.2) behind Max O'Leary (3.6) and Gavin Bazunu (2.8).

A new episode of BBC Radio Derby's Rams Weekly podcast is now available.

Malcolm Christie, Ed Dawes and Amelia Warren discuss all the latest Derby County news, including goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom's injury following defeat to Birmingham City.

Listen above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

The injury to goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom is the latest setback for Derby County head coach John Eustace.

The Sweden international has been vital for the Rams this season, behind a team which has seen a number of changes in front of him.

Zetterstrom has made 30 saves, kept one clean sheet and played every minute of Derby's opening seven Championship matches before suffering his knee injury.

Injuries have become a recurring theme at Pride Park. Across the past two seasons, around 18 first-team players have missed at least five games through injury, forcing Derby into repeated reshuffles and disrupting any chance of continuity.

Long-term absentees last season included Carlton Morris, Patrick Agyemang and Zetterstrom himself.

This season, the Rams' bad luck has continued. Defender Matt Clarke was injured in the Carabao Cup opener and Derry Murkin is yet to kick a ball.

Captain Lewis Travis picked up an injury against Swansea, defender Craig Forsyth suffered a knee injury, while both Rhian Brewster and Henrik Meister have spent time in concussion protocols following head injuries.

Derby's squad is not deep enough to absorb this volume of setbacks without feeling the effects. Players are returning from injury while others are still adapting to the demands of the Championship.

Add a dip in form from some key individuals and it's easy to understand why consistency has proved elusive.

There is plenty of football still to be played, but if Derby are to climb the table, Eustace will need both better fortune and a healthier squad in the weeks ahead.

Amelia Warren
Fan writer

Derby have not started the same back four in successive games since 29 August, where they opted to play the same defence that lined up against Cardiff City in their 2-2 draw the week before.

Most teams that are successful in the Championship often prioritise building from the back, making themselves hard to score against and hard to beat.

To do that you often have to have a settled back line who understand each other and therefore can communicate more effectively, cover for each other better when required, and ultimately reduce the amount of errors that can lead to conceding goals.

Derby at the moment look like a team who don't have a settled back four.

Max Johnston, Joe Ward, Ryan Nyambe, Dion Sanderson, Sondre Langas, Eiran Cashin, Charlie Taylor, and Craig Forsyth have all featured across the Rams back line in different defensive combinations since the start of the campaign.

John Eustace doesn't seem to know which defensive players and combinations he prefers at current.

It's a problem that needs solving, and fast, if Derby want to stop conceding goals and losing football matches.

Image source, Getty Images

On Saturday, we saw once again, the lack of chemistry Derby's defensive unit has at the moment.

Taylor was fooled by the run of Carlos Vicente in the lead up to Birmingham City's equaliser. A simple fake to run inside left Taylor running towards the same space as Cashin.

The full-back made a last ditch attempt to try and prevent Vicente from scoring at the far post, ultimately getting caught under the ball and allowing the Blues number seven to head home.

For the second goal, Langas became too invested in Christoph Klarer trying to make himself a nuisance to Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, leaving the Rams goalkeeper rooted to the spot and unable to deal with the delivery from the corner kick.

Furthermore Langas' lack of engagement in the set-piece left Paik Seung-Ho unmarked, and able to ghost in at the far post to score the simplest of headers.

It goes without saying that both of the goals Derby conceded on Saturday were incredibly soft, but it is also no secret that the Rams are lucky Birmingham weren't more clinical on the day, as they could have conceded four or five.

An improvement in an attacking sense amounts to absolutely nothing if you can't keep the back door shut.

Despite more positive patterns of play, more urgency in the final third, and more problems being caused to the opposition's defence, the result simply didn't change, and Derby fell to their third straight defeat.

Until the Rams can field a consistent and settled back four, you feel they will continue to concede goals.

The long term injuries to Derry Murkin, and reigning player of the season, Matt Clarke, are far from ideal. If those two players were fully fit, they would undoubtedly be two of the first names on the team sheet for Eustace.

That being said, Derby need to deal with the cards they have been dealt, and try and find a way to fill in the gaps until those players can return.

You can often catch Amelia Warren, external as a guest on BBC Radio Derby.

Image source, Shutterstock

We asked for your thoughts after Birmingham City's 2-1 win over Derby County at Pride Park.

Here are some of your comments:

Derby fans

PianoMan: As a Rams fan, it's painful to watch this. We are not a team right now. Too many errors caused by a lack of communication, confidence and knowledge of how John Eustace wants to play (if there is a strategy?).

We are shocking. Injuries are significant and we have to ask why... why so many players are injury prone. Recruitment need to look at this. We are in trouble. Teams know we are poor and can beat us.

Philip: Eustace has got to sort out our defensive weaknesses otherwise we will be so far behind the rest. The season will be over before it's started.

Daniel: Not good enough. Surely time's up for John Eustace?

David: Well done to Birmingham. We had plenty of possession, but I worry that our forward play is going to make this a tough season.

Kazzian: Another game with no ambition by Derby to win the game, totally devoid of ideas around the penalty area. Stood and watched Birmingham play football. One effort on goal at home in the first-half tells the story. Could and probably should have been 5-1. Dire.

Image source, Shutterstock

Birmingham fans

Tony R: A good away performance. Competent and measured. We looked decent in attack (Liam Millar did well again) and strong defensively (Christoph Klarer's best game of the season?). The sort of game we would probably have lost last season, so a big 'well done' to Davies and the players.

George: Desperately need to work on our finishing. I wouldn't say bringing on a host of defenders to manage the game is a good idea either. It invites what we saw at the end of the match, an onslaught. If it ain't broke, don't fix it Davies!

Major: A hard-fought, fully-deserved victory for Blues. So much better than the insipid loss up there a few months back. 10 points from a murderous row of opening fixtures should hopefully be a good platform to build on from here. Well done also to James Beadle, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Chris Davies for sticking it to the doubters!

KhanDjarin: What a signing Liam Millar has been so far. Lively start to his time in a Blues shirt!

James: What a game of football that is. Easily the best defensive performance from Birmingham this season and outstanding from Beadle in goal. How Luis Vasquez has missed that is beyond me, and it's not like it's the first time he's missed blatant opportunities. Unbelievable that Blues didn't score more but a win is a well-deserved after all.

Derby County head coach John Eustace spoke BBC Radio Derby following Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Birmingham City.

"It was a game we certainly didn't deserve to lose. They were two real soft goals and when you concede goals like that you are not going to be on the right end of the results that you want," he said.

"The effort was amazing again today, I thought we played some really exciting stuff and it was great to see the new players impact the game as well, so we are really disappointed to lose.

"The lads have been as good as they can, they have been working as hard as they can. We are obviously missing the player of the year from last year [Matt Clarke], who is a quality centre-half, and we haven't been able to have a structured starting XI and the back four are chopping and changing a lot. Until we get a stable team and stable back four we are always probably going to get issues.

On Henrik Meister injury: "He's not well. It's a big blow when you come off after 50 minutes after playing well. He's having his concussion protocols so we'll just have to see how he is. I was speaking to him and he seems ok."

Derby County have managed only one point from their opening three Championship games as they host Birmingham City on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Blues head to the east Midlands without a win in their past three league matches so both sides will be hoping for an upturn in form.

• Derby County have only lost two of their past 13 home league games against Birmingham City (W6 D5) - a 3-0 defeat in January 2016 and a 2-1 loss in April 2021.

• Birmingham have only lost one of their past five league games against Derby County (W2 D2), although it was their most recent, a 1-0 loss at Pride Park in March last season.

• Derby have lost their past two league games; the Rams last lost three in a row in March 2025.

• Birmingham have only won one of their past nine away league games (D3 L5), a 2-1 victory at Wrexham in August.

• No goalkeeper has made more saves in the Championship this season than Derby's Jacob Widell Zetterstrom (22).

Former Derby County striker Malcolm Christie joins Dominic Dietrich and Ed Dawes on the latest episode of Rams Weekly.

They discuss back-to-back defeats by West Ham and West Bromwich Albion which have left Derby in the relegation zone with just one win from their opening six games.

Also on the agenda are growing questions around performances, injury issues, how much patience is required, the summer recruitment and a preview of Birmingham City's visit to Pride Park on Saturday.

Listen above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Amelia Warren
Fan writer

Image source, Shutterstock

It was always going to be a difficult task for Derby to get a result at the London Stadium on Saturday

However, the most disappointing part of the loss was probably how little attacking threat the Rams possessed all afternoon, finishing the game with zero shots on West Ham's goal.

Despite having their fair share of momentum in the second half, and working themselves into some dangerous positions, the end product just simply was not there.

Being back at home on Wednesday night, it felt as though Derby had the perfect opportunity to get back on track, despite coming up against another strong side in West Bromwich Albion.

Early positive glimpses showed the Rams were definitely looking to be more direct, with Mohammed Fuseini making himself a nuisance down the left, alongside David Ozoh impressively linking midfield to attack.

The Rams' early pressure counted for nothing, when they switched off defensively after 15 minutes and a catalogue of errors led to Albion taking the lead with their only shot on target of the night.

Understandably so, frustrations began to rise inside Pride Park.

West Brom offered Derby a lifeline when they were reduced to 10 men just 18 minutes later and with encouragement from the stands it felt likely that Derby would be able to work their way back into the game.

Or perhaps not.

Despite firing multiple crosses into the box, trying to work openings in the final third, and having superior possession, the Rams simply were not able to break Albion's rigid defence down.

For most fans I think the disappointment comes from the sheer toothlessness in front of goal, particularly with a man advantage for such a large portion of the game.

Derby's end product was hopeless. Poor decision making, underwhelming execution, and a lack of confidence all shone through.

Image source, Shutterstock

Despite having key players out injured, it does feel as though Derby should have more than enough quality in attack to be able to threaten the opposition's goal more regularly and effectively.

So why aren't we?

Perhaps questions are to be asked of manager John Eustace, and the seemingly negative style of play that has been implemented.

For the majority of last night, even with the extra man, it felt as though Derby were more bothered about retaining the ball by playing sideways and backwards passes, than they were about taking a risk and trying to threaten the West Brom goal.

There was a severe lack of identity and with players like Sammie Szmodics and Bobby Clark in your side, that should not be the case.

Despite being able to understand Eustace wanting to bring Henrik Meister into the game as a targetman, with Joe Ward on the pitch looking to deliver balls into the box, taking David Ozoh off on the hour mark when he had been one of Derby's more creative players in the game felt like a negative call.

I have always been an advocate for patience in the early stages of a new campaign, even more so when you factor in Derby's current long injury list.

On Saturday supporters are going to need to see more urgency in the final third, less pedestrian build up, and better ideas to try open Birmingham up.

For some perspective, after six games had been played last season the Rams had only accumulated five points, and sat 21st in the table. Now, they're on four points and sit 22nd in the league.

I will continue to give Eustace and the team time, remaining hopeful that when key players return from injury results will improve off the back of it.

Like most fans though, my patience won't last forever. Let's hope we can begin to turn the tide sooner rather than later.

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Championship match between Derby County and West Bromwich Albion.

Albion won at Derby for just the second time in 107 years, despite playing over an hour with 10 men, to go top of the table.

The Rams remain winless at home in all competitions and have now lost four of their six league games.

Here are some of your comments:

Derby County fans

Russell: Absolute rubbish, John. Useless needs to go now!

Tim: Utter rubbish. Well played West Brom. Made us look like the clueless idiots we are. Zero creativity and attacking intent and idea.

Adam: Lots of swinging high balls into the Albion box but very predictable. Derby need more variety.

Steve: Same as last year and after 10 games we had only won one, so we need to get back some of the injured players.

Paul: I don't think Eustace has the tactical ability to deal with going a goal behind. He has only won three games when the opposition have scored first in his whole managerial career [editor's note: is actually four - twice with Blackburn and twice at Derby]. Time to stop making excuses and prove you are up to the job.

Graham: Too slow in getting ball to forwards, who no longer seem to make the runs, because they know the ball will not arrive. Defence too casual, again.

Image source, Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion fans

Geoff: Solid. Worked hard. Spirit. So proud of you lads.

Richie: 10 men after the sending off. Dug in deep. Something bubbling here.

Tom: Magnificent displays all over the pitch. Sending off was a bit harsh as I felt a telling off would have sufficed. Hopefully Morgan pulling up at the end with his hamstring is just a niggle.

Bobby: Early days but looks very promising.

Paul R: Absolutely brilliant. Mozza has turned our club around, what a lad. Brilliant display but there is always one.

Paul D: Should have taken Pereira off after first booking. He was shocking up to that point. Great three points and great defensive effort second half.

Image source, Getty Images

Defender Sondre Langas says Derby County were left "frustrated and disappointed" by their narrow defeat against 10-man West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday.

The Baggies had Brayann Pereira sent off in the 34th minute at Pride Park, but hung on for a 1-0 win that moved them top of the fledgling Championship table.

Derby's fourth league defeat in six games to start the season dropped them into the bottom three.

Norway international Langas said "confidence and belief" remains in the group, but was quick to admit that hard work is needed to address their early-season failings.

"I'm frustrated we conceded that easily when they didn't create that many chances," Langas told BBC Radio Derby.

"They then go down to 10 men and it's really disappointing that we didn't get at least one point out of this game, having played about 60 minutes with one man more.

"We have conceded early in almost every game and that is one thing that kills us a bit and something we have to work on in training."

Derby County manager John Eustace says there is a lot of work for his side to do in the final third after a frustrating night against new Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion.

The Baggies were reduced to 10 men after 34 minutes when Brayann Pereira saw red, but despite having an advantage for so long the Rams could find no answer to Aune Heggebo's opener.

Eustace told BBC Radio Derby: "The way we started the game was excellent and then to go behind in the way we did against the run of play was a kick in the teeth. It's another early goal at home which is something we want to stop.

"The attitude of the boys was very good. In the second half we threw everything at their goal but we couldn't get the quality in the final third to break them down.

"That's where we are at the moment. We had to be patient when they went down to 10 men, we needed forward runners and we had two or three good chances.

"There is a lot of work we need to do."