Derby County grabbed their first win and clean sheet of the season after a 1-0 victory against Middlesbrough.
Pride Park was the scene of a brilliant 1-0 victory for Paul Warne’s side as Derby County managed to see off Middlesbrough in their second Championship game of the season since promotion from League one.
The Rams didn’t play the most attractive style of football, particularly in the second half, however they put in a brilliant performance defensively to see off the Middlesbrough attacking threat.
The likes of Ben Osborn and David Ozoh put in a brilliant performance in the centre-of-the-park, as did the backline, despite injuries to Eiran Cashin and Kane Wilson.
However, there was one player in particular that shone for Warne’s side against Middlesbrough, and has been given raving reviews, despite his place in the team being at risk.
Derby County fans express excitement after Josh Vickers performance
Following the signing of Swedish goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, it was up for debate whether Josh Vickers would keep his spot in the starting 11 for Derby County, however the new arrival only made the bench.
It seemed that Vickers was set to be a stop-gap inclusion today whilst Widell Zetterstrom warms up to English football, however the Englishman has seemed to have proven that he can live up to Championship expectations.
One Derby County fan wrote on X that you ‘can see why Warne rates him’, whilst others deemed his performance as ‘excellent’ and ‘outstanding’.
Others suggested that Vickers ‘had a fantastic game’, and one fan even claimed that he played a ‘man of the match performance’.
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Josh Vickers has given Paul Warne a selection headache ahead of the next game
Every Derby County fan will have been expecting the tie against Middlesbrough to be Vickers’ last start for a while, as Widell Zetterstrom looked likely to come straight in and take the main sport in-between the sticks, however the 28-year-old shot-stopper has arguably just dropped an unstoppable performance which would almost be cruel to see him replaced now.
It seems as if Derby County have gone from major problems surrounding the goalkeeper situation, to having two more than competent players battling for a spot, and the truth is that Rams fans will have to wait a little bit longer to see the new Swedish goalkeeper getting gametime in the league.
Vickers has had a difficult spell whilst at Derby County, and is a player who has had very little opportunities in proving his worth, but when he was given the stage to perform against Middlesbrough, he made the most of it, and has looked to have given Warne a major selection headache for all the right reasons.