2025-26 Sky Bet Championship: Week 25 – Thursday

Derby County host Middlesbrough in a standout New Year’s Day encounter in the 2025-26 Sky Bet Championship.

Victory could lift Derby as high as ninth in the table if results elsewhere go in their favour, whilst Boro can remain second with a win.

 

Team News

Bobby Clark is a doubt for Derby after he suffered a knee injury during their 2-1 loss at Leicester.

Max Johnston (hamstring), David Ozoh (thigh) and Carlton Morris (ankle) remain absent.

Middlesbrough could hand summer signing, Adilson Malanda his debut after he was loaned back to Charlotte FC for the remainder of the MLS season.

Lukas Engel is unlikely to be risked after his return to training following a MLS loan spell at Real Salt Lake.

Dael Fry (calf) and David Strelec (knock) aren’t expected to travel, whilst George Edmundson (unspecified), Alfie Jones (ankle), Riley McGree (hamstring), Abdoulaye Kante (hernia/groin) and Darragh Lenihan (Achilles) remain ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Derby host Middlesbrough on New Year’s Day 2026 at Pride Park in a 3pm GMT kick-off, live on Sky Sports+ in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Derby have won just one of their last five meetings against Middlesbrough (W1, D1, L3).
• Middlesbrough are winless in their last five visits to Derby (D2, L3).
• Two of Derby’s last three meetings against Middlesbrough ended in a 1-0 home win for both teams apiece.
• Derby are winless in their last four home games (D2, L2).
• Morgan Whittaker has scored in three of Boro’s last four away games (W2, D1, L1).

 

Prediction

With just two defeats in their last nine matches at home and sat on the peripheral fringes of the lower play-off spots race, Derby know that this is a pretty important game if want to keep pace with those just above them in a tight part of the table but must be more clinical than they were at Leicester.

Middlesbrough meanwhile are definitely feeling their defensive injury crisis because Hull were able to clinically capitalise upon a weak defensive moment early on, before soaking up Boro’s attack as the hosts lacked much clinical edge to cause serious trouble.

On that note, it is tough to see where Boro are going to reignite their spark here but if Kim Hellberg throws Malanda straight into the defence, they might be more solid defensively and capable of grinding out a point.

Prediction: Derby 1-1 Middlesbrough

Result: Derby 1-0 Middlesbrough