Derby County claimed all three points in their first Championship game on home soil since May 2022.
Paul Warne made only one change from the team that were beaten by Blackburn Rovers on the opening day, bringing in James Collins for Tom Barkhuizen and shifting Kayden Jackson out to the right.
Derby faced a huge challenge against promotion contenders Middlesbrough, who headed into the game after back-to-back wins, while they were yet to concede a goal this season.
It was Jackson’s early opener that proved to be the difference though, gifting the Rams their first win of the league campaign.
It was a quality display all round though, with Josh Vickers being one player who received praise for his performance at Pride Park.
The goalkeeper kept his place in the starting line-up after Jacob Widell Zetterstrom was announced as Derby’s ninth signing a day earlier.
The 6 ft 6 shot-stopper was named on the bench, but is expected to earn his place as the Rams’ No. 1.
However, Vickers did a very good job of fighting off his ‘competition’ yesterday, impressing Warne as he kept a clean sheet.
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Josh Vickers was ‘phenomenal’ against Middesbrough
Speaking to the official club website, Warne said: “Josh was, a lot more like himself today, which is great. So, you know, we want goalkeepers to compete. And that’s what you want. And that’s why you try and sign players that you think are better than what you’ve had. That sounds awful, but you want players that push others on. Our job as a football club is to sign another striker to compete with Jerry [Yates], to compete with Dej [Brown], to compete with Collo [Collins]. And someone who comes in and the ones below are thinking, I’m not happy with that, okay, we’ll train harder, get better. And that is what competition does.
“And I thought Middlesbrough were excellent, by the way. And I think they’ll be a top six team. But they’re bringing two players on that they’ve paid four million each for. So, we’re competing against really good sides. And that’s why you want to be in this league. But to get three points is big. And you need everything to go your way. And it felt like one of them days today where I thought everything would. And Josh was a massive part of it, his contribution was phenomenal.”
Vickers made four saves against Middlesbrough, as well as making three clearances and completing 12 long ball passes.
Can the goalkeeper keep the No.1 spot?
The 28-year-old only managed seven appearances in League One and will be desperate to take his chance to keep his place in between the sticks now.
Zetterstrom has been a target of Derby’s for some time now, so it would be a surprise if he isn’t to force his way into the starting line-up in the coming weeks.
EIther way, his arrival has clearly improved Vickers’ performances and that is exactly what the Midlands outfit want if they are to keep impressing and keep winning games.
Derby have done a good job at improving all positions in the pitch now and have given healthy competition to a majority of their players, while they look to add another striker to do the same thing.
Warne’s side have had a very solid transfer window and now they just have to hope the quality is there to keep picking up points.