Derby County

Dominic Dietrich
BBC Radio Derby

Image source, Rex Features

Derby County have eight players from across the first team and academy currently out on international duty.

Fresh off his first goal for the Rams in the 1-1 draw against Southampton last Saturday, striker Patrick Agyemang (pictured) has gone away with the USA for the first time since recovering from hernia surgery.

The Americans host Ecuador in a friendly due to kick off at 01:30 BST on Saturday and will also be in contention to face Australia at 02:00 BST on Wednesday.

Midfielder Ebou Adams has once again joined up with The Gambia for their FIFA World Cup Group F qualifiers against Gabon on Friday (14:00 BST) and Seychelles in their final qualifier on Tuesday (14:00 BST).

Loan forward Ben Brereton Díaz links up with the Chile squad for their friendly against Peru on Friday night (00:00 BST), while defender Max Johnston was a late call-up for Scotland for their World Cup qualifiers at home to Greece on Thursday (19:45 BST) and Belarus on Sunday (17:00 BST).

Looking at the academy players in action, under-21s midfielder Cruz Allen joins the Wales Under-19s again, while midfielder Darren Robinson, currently out on loan with St Patrick's Athletic in Ireland, will join Northern Ireland's under-21s.

Defender Daniel Cox, on loan at Walsall, will join up with the Wales Under-21s, while under-18s midfielder Sean Corry has been called up to the Northern Ireland under-19 squad.

"That Southampton or Ipswich performance was the benchmark.

"I don't think either of them, when we look towards the end of the season, will be our best performance. There's loads and loads of positive things to come moving forward."

Ed Dawes, Dominic Dietrich and former Rams striker Malcolm Christie look ahead to how Derby County can evolve after the international break and what's impressed so far.

Listen to the latest episode of Rams Weekly and more Derby County content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, PA Media

Derby County full-back Max Johnston has been called into the Scotland squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Belarus.

The 21-year-old has been added to Steve Clarke's squad for the games at Hampden Park on Thursday and Sunday.

Johnston has four caps, having made his senior debut in a Uefa Nations League win over Greece in March this year.

The former Motherwell defender joined Derby from Austrian Bundesliga side Sturm Graz for an undisclosed fee in August.

Scotland are currently second in their World Cup qualifying group after two games, behind the leaders Denmark on goal difference, with the top side qualifying automatically and the runners-up facing a play-off.

Amelia Warren
Fan writer

A 1-1 draw at Wrexham the previous weekend and a 1-1 draw with Charlton in midweek meant Derby went into their tough fixture against recently-relegated Southampton perhaps less confident than they would have hoped.

Yet again, though, Derby found themselves coming away with a point, through yet another 1-1 draw, heading into the second international break of the season as the league's "draw specialists", having drawn five of their opening nine matches.

As frustrating as it is that Derby can't seem to find a winning formula, it's arguably more important the Rams are showing resilience and aren't being defeated.

After falling behind in each of their past three fixtures, Derby have managed to bounce back and get an equaliser, showcasing the fighting mentality that John Eustace has projected onto the team since joining the club.

Some positives to take into the international break: Patrick Agyemang and Ben Brereton Diaz being up and running with goals. If Derby can have more than one attacker in form and high on confidence, the goals will come.

It's not that the Rams aren't creating good attacking opportunities, at times it's just been a lack of execution in the final third that's been the difference.

However, now you have Agyemang, Brereton Diaz, Rhian Brewster and Carlton Morris all with goals to their name, and once that first goal has come for an attacker at their new club, it gives them so much more confidence and self belief to go on and add to their tallies.

The midfield balance is improving: Since the signing of Lewis Travis, boss Eustace has found himself with a headache in the middle of the park, having to decide which of Ebou Adams, Travis and David Ozoh to play together as a central two.

Image source, Getty Images

The midfield conundrum has also been a hot talking point among fans, with many split between playing Travis and Adams, or playing Travis and Ozoh.

However, after watching the Travis and Ozoh pairing from the start on Saturday, I believe there's actually a case for both combinations, and potentially even an Ozoh and Adams option too, depending on the opposition.

Against more aggressive and physical opponents, Adams must start. His ability to win the ball back, his strength and aggression are all very much traits the team needs against "lesser" opposition who like to make the game as tough as possible for us.

However, against more technically gifted teams, Adams has recently lacked the quality needed in the middle of the pitch to retain possession and keep the team moving in an attacking sense. That for me is exactly where Ozoh makes the difference.

His natural passing ability, and ability to link play between the centre of the pitch to the attack much more efficiently, allows him to be the better fit against teams you'd expect to be in and around the top half of the table by the end of the season.

There's also a world where Adams and Ozoh could be paired up in midfield throughout the season. Those two have worked well together previously for the club, so there's no reason why they couldn't be trusted to repeat their positive performances.

However, I'm inclined to believe that we'll see a lot less of that combination with Travis being Eustace's main man, and captain.

Regardless, it's great to have depth in the midfield with three quality players who all suit the team in different ways. I wouldn't be surprised to see regular rotation between the three throughout the season, to manage minutes and prevent injuries.

With Brewster returning from his knock, plus Sondre Langas, Owen Beck and Corey Blackett-Taylor all looking to come back into the squad after the break, the Rams should feel a boost over the next week or two that will no doubt keep them hopeful they can find a formula to turn draws into wins as soon as possible.

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

Image source, Getty Images

Derby County boss John Eustace said his side had an "amazing" response to going behind in the 1-1 draw with Southampton at Pride Park Stadium.

He told BBC Radio Derby: "It was a great game of football between two good teams. We're up against top-quality players and we went toe-to-toe with them.

"The first goal was too easy unfortunately but the response was amazing. We are getting sharper and fitter as a team and I thought the football was really good.

"Heads haven't dropped all season. I'm delighted with the response and proud of the efforts again of the group.

"I'm delighted with the way Carlton Morris and Patrick Agyemang are linking up at the minute.

"Today was a good sign when we're confident and playing our football we can create and score against the best in the league."

Image source, Opta

Derby's quest for a first home win of the season resumes as they welcome Southampton to Pride Park on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Though Tuesday's late draw against Charlton means the Rams have lost just one of their past six matches, four of those have ended all-square and they have taken just two points from their opening four home games.

Will Still's side picked up their first away win of the season at Sheffield United on Tuesday, earning as many points as they had in their previous five matches combined.

Though County are fifth-bottom, a point above the drop-zone and six places adrift of Southampton, a two-goal win for the Rams would actually take them above the Saints in the table.

• Derby County have won just one of their past nine league games against Southampton (D5 L3), a 1-0 victory in February 2007.

• Southampton have won just four of their 31 away league games against Derby County (D12 L15), though are unbeaten across their last four since 2005 (W1 D3).

• Derby County have drawn four of their past six Championship games (W1 D1), while no team have drawn more matches than them (7) in the competition since the start of April.

• After beating Sheffield United in midweek, Southampton will be looking to achieve consecutive league wins for the first time since April 2024 (three in the Championship).

• Carlton Morris has scored 40% of Derby County's goals in the Championship this season (4/10). However, after scoring in his first four league games this term, he's failed to score in each of the past four.

Derby County manager John Eustace has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Championship clash with Southampton (15:00 BST).

Here are the main talking points:

• Despite just one league win, Eustace believes there have been encouraging performances all season. They have especially shown the guile to get back into games when being on course to lose, which is why they've lost just three times.

• In order to get more wins, the Rams need "more composure" and more "quality" in the final third in order to get more goals, because they have mostly been good at restricting oppositions attack when "under pressure."

• Eustace brought on David Ozoh for the second half in place of Ebou Adams in the midfield against Charlton on Tuesday because Derby needed to "play forward a bit quicker". Ozoh added "a little bit more oomph with the ball."

• Not being picked for the Scotland squad for the international break will be beneficial for Max Johnston as it gives him an opportunity to properly settle in at Derby without having to be constantly preparing for a match. His development as a player, when he's still only 20, is crucial.

• Dion Sanderson has been playing through an injury, he is questionable for the match on Saturday.

• Eustace is aware of Southampton's quality and is looking forward to testing his squad against the best squads in the Championship, which he feels Saints are one of having just come down from the Premier League.

Listen to the full press conference with John Eustace and more Rams on Sounds.

"Derby did start well, they got caught on the break, but then everyone gets frantic and any sideways or backwards pass would get the groans."

Recruitment expert and former Derby coach Darren Robinson joins Malcolm Christie and Ed Dawes to talk through the Rams' 1-1 draw at Pride Park on Tuesday night.

Listen to the full episode of Rams Weekly and more on BBC Sounds

Derby County defender Callum Elder believes that on another day the Rams would have taken all three points from their 1-1 draw against Charlton at Pride Park.

The Rams were knocked back by James Bree in the 37th minute, before Matt Clarke's header rescued a point at home for John Eustace's side.

Elder started the game and believes Derby were unfortunate not to get the winning goal.

"It's certainly frustrating, I thought we started the game strong, we were growing into the game, we were creating chances in the final third, and then one long ball against the run of play undoes us. It needs to be better," Elder told BBC Radio Derby.

"I thought we responded well, especially in the second half we pushed for the winner, firstly the equaliser - we managed to get it - and we looked like the team in the ascendency that would go on and win it.

"I feel on another day, with that persistence, we get three points, but certainly something to improve on and look forward to the weekend and try and turn draws into wins."

Derby have struggled to find form this season, winning just one of their opening eight league fixtures with Eustace having had 13 new additions to his squad, as well as injuries to contend with.

Elder believes that two of the new attacking additions in particular are starting to find their feet.

"I felt we were always a threat, especially Pat [Agyemang] in behind is a constant threat, Carlton [Morris] coming underneath him is a real working combination at the minute," he said.

"In the second half I felt we were the team that would go on and win the game and I think we showed good belief and character to get back into it.

"The next step for us as a group of players is to make sure we start winning those games, especially at home."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds

Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby commentator

Image source, PA Media

The 'I want it now' culture of modern society has never been as apt when linking it to football.

Derby County's new signings are just about getting up to match speed. But long after the summer transfer window closed, the Rams have been struggling for cohesion and consistency.

Head coach John Eustace had warned back in early August that it will take time for the Rams to hit the ground running in his first full Championship season - and he couldn't he have been more right.

Fans have asked why Derby County have signed so many injured players, but I suppose the answer is because they can attract them to Pride Park, get them fit and reap the rewards where others would prefer not to.

Eustace has the makings of a really good Championship team.

Competitive and creative. Packed with power and pace, with resilience in defence.

The only problem is, he hasn't been able to name his preferred strongest XI yet.

Just as Rhian Brewster burst onto the scene at Ipswich [in late August], he picked up an innocuous injury in training. Owen Beck's Rams debut was reduced to a breakdown in a warm-up in pre-season at Burton, while Bobby Clark is clearly regaining his confidence and Patrick Agyemang is not only learning the physical nature of the division, he's also building his fitness while learning how to play with new team-mates.

There are plenty of ifs, buts and maybes with Derby's start to the new season. But the underlying narrative has to be, right now, understood.

The nature of the Championship sees surprise packages and the obvious ex-Premier League teams among the front-runners.

The Rams are still building, and not just in the short term.

The long game is success that doesn't come out of the blue, with a campaign the following season that goes down in history, again.

Currently the Rams have only lost three of their first eight games and they are picking up points after going behind. They have done that four times now and could easily have won at Stoke on the opening day and at Ipswich.

Home form will click, and they will become harder to beat.

Patience is key and, by the end of this month, there is a hope that a fully-fit squad will have its identity nailed on and start picking up the points they deserve.

"That was all about the mindset and the psychology of the game, and we almost saw two faces of Derby County."

Former Derby County coach Darren Robinson joined Dom Dietrich and Ed Dawes to discuss the Rams' 1-1 draw with Charlton at Pride Park.

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds

Derby County boss John Eustace spoke to BBC Radio Derby after his side's 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic:

"It's important that we keep picking points up. We haven't been as fluid which is frustrating again tonight but we're getting valuable minutes into our top players.

"Patrick [Agyemang] is welcomed to the Championship on Saturday and I think it felt like that a bit today. The defenders were all over him, he's got to learn what the league's all about which is good, he's still a threat.

"There are lots of positives to take out of the game. We're really disappointed with the manner we conceded the first goal because I felt we started the first half really well.

"And when you concede first at home it does create pressure and a bit of tension. At half-time the lads came in, we regrouped and I thought [in the] second half we played well."

Derby County should only be judged when they have a fully-fit squad and after 46 games, says boss John Eustace.

The Rams head into Tuesday's Championship match against Charlton still looking for their first home win of the season, with only six points on the board after seven games.

"We're seven games in, the season is 46 games," Eustace told BBC Radio Derby.

"You don't get judged where you are at the moment, you get judged where you finish and it's important we keep working hard, keep working together and see where it takes us."

Eustace revealed forwards Corey Blackett-Taylor and Rhian Brewster, along with defender Owen Beck, will not return before the international break next week but says they are not far from having a full squad to choose from.

"It's about the squad and if we can get a fully-fit squad, they're all going to make an impact on a Saturday," he added.

"We haven't been fortunate to have a fully-fit squad yet; we're nearly there now and it's really exciting."

Image source, Opta

Derby go in search of their first home win of the campaign as Charlton head to Pride Park on Tuesday (20:00 BST).

Saturday's 1-1 draw at Wrexham made it five points from their past three away games for the Rams, but they have begun the season with a single point from three home games, and went down 1-0 to Preston in their most recent fixture in front of their own fans to extend their winless streak at home to six games, dating back to last season.

County are fourth-bottom with six points from seven games, five fewer than the Addicks, who sit seventh after back-to-back wins, at Sheffield United and then 3-0 at home to Blackburn on Saturday.

Nathan Jones' men have kept four clean sheets in their opening seven matches, including two in their three away games.

• Derby lost their last league meeting with Charlton 2-1 in February 2024, but haven't lost back-to-back league games versus the Addicks since January 1984.

• After their 2-1 win in February 2024, Charlton could win back-to-back away league visits to Derby for the first time since December 1962 (4 in a row).

• Derby have alternated between drawing (3) and losing (3) their past six home league games; they had won three in a row on home soil prior to this.

• Charlton have won four of their past seven away league games (D1 L2), beating Sheffield United 1-0 in their most recent.

• Charlton's Nathan Jones has only lost one of his seven previous managerial league games against Derby (W3 D3), falling to a 0-2 defeat with Luton in April 2021.

Image source, Opta

It's a first trip across the border into Wales this season for Derby County as they look to climb out of the relegation places with a win at Wrexham on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Wrexham are yet to win at home this season having picked up one point at the Racecourse Ground.

Derby County were edged out 1-0 by Preston North End previously, while Wrexham beat Norwich City 3-2 at Carrow Road.

• This is the first league meeting between Wrexham and Derby since a 1-1 draw in the second tier in April 1982.

• Derby won their last meeting with Wrexham in all competitions, beating them 3-1 in an FA Cup third round tie in 2007 thanks to an Arturo Lupoli hat-trick.

• Wrexham have lost two of their three home league games this season (D1), as many as they had in their previous 27 (W20 D5).

• Derby have lost just one of their last six away league games (W3 D2), going down 3-1 at Stoke on the opening weekend this season.

• Wrexham have faced more shots (115) and have a higher xG against (14.9) than any other side in the Championship this season. However, Derby have had the fewest shots (42) and the lowest xG (4.5) of any side this term.

Image source, BBC Sport

Derby County midfielder Liam Thompson has suffered a knee injury during training that will keep him out for four to five weeks, boss John Eustace has confirmed.

The 23-year-old appeared in three of the Rams' opening Championship matches this season but has been missing from the squad for the past two against West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End.

Left-back Owen Beck is expected back after the next international break, while striker Rhian Brewster has returned to training and could be available for the game against Southampton in October.

Defender Sondre Langas has not yet been ruled out from the upcoming trip to Wrexham on Saturday (12:30 BST) but Eustace is in no rush to reintroduce the Norway international as he recovers from knee surgery.

"It might be a little bit too soon but we will see," Eustace told BBC Radio Derby.

"It's really important we don't push him because he's going to be a vital player for us going forward. I think there's competition for places in there and the players who have played in there up to now have done well, so let's put him in there when the time is right."

Listen to the full interview with Eustace and more Derby County content on BBC Sounds.

"I was the angriest I've ever been at half-time watching any game live. It just simply wasn't good enough in the first half."

"When you set up a team and the players go out there and they don't get to the level that a top professional footballer could get, I was shaking at half-time I was that angry."

Malcolm Christie, Ed Dawes and Dominic Dietrich analyse the defeat to Preston North End, discuss the need for more able ball-carriers in the first XI, as well as where the Rams stand after the opening six games and the consequences of a potential Championship play-off expansion.

Listen to the full episode of Rams Weekly and more Derby County on Sounds.

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."