Derby County

A move to Pride Park is a great chance for Oscar Fraulo to reignite his career, according to German journalist Kevin Schulte.

Derby signed the 22-year-old Danish midfielder from German Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach on a three-and-a-half-year deal for a compensation fee, thought to be around £300,000.

Fraulo played only 40 minutes of football across four league games for Gladbach this season and was in the final months of his contract at Borussia-Park.

He made just seven appearances for the German side since joining from Danish side Midtjylland in 2022, although he spent the past two seasons on loan with Dutch club Utrecht, where he scored five goals in 59 league games.

"He had a very hard and challenging time (at Gladbach)," Schulte said told BBC Radio Derby.

"His problem was the squad is very unbalanced. In his position there are too many players. It's to do with poor squad management over the past four or five years so the best thing for him was the loan to Utrecht.

"It was not surprising Borussia sold him now to Derby permanently. This was the last chance to get some money from the transfer. I think the money is the best you can get and Borussia needs every penny."

Schulte predicted there was "more to come" from Fraulo, who has earned Denmark under-21 honours.

"The plan was that maybe he plays a bigger role in the second or third year, and after that didn't happen you know it will be hard. He's still very young, at this kind of age you have to play.

"Utrecht was quite good, he had two good seasons there, but after his return everybody said maybe it's time for him to shine a bit more, but four appearances on the pitch in the first 16 matches is too little.

"Now it's best for all sides that Oscar left."

Schulte said Fraulo was best suited to an attacking midfield role rather than a defensive one, but added: "He has quite a broad skill-set, he's box-to-box, high intensity, he works hard to get better and has high tactical intelligence and passing skills.

"An offensive eight should be his best position. His style is based on good skills and passing. He's not slow. In Derby he should play a good role.

"We are a bit surprised that Fraulo didn't play any role at Borussia over the past three seasons.

"There should be much to come from him when he has playing time."

Image source, Getty Images

Sinners star and Derby County fan Jack O'Connell has said that the Rams are "very fortunate" to have boss John Eustace at the helm.

Eustace had already made an impression on the Hollywood actor as a player in a Derby shirt and he has now been "impressed" with what the 46-year-old has had to offer from the manager's seat.

"I love him. I think he's got the potential to be one of our top managers... ever," O'Connell told BBC Radio Derby during their Sportscene call-in.

"I loved him in a Derby shirt and I think now is the time to back him because it does feed onto the field.

"I think in a couple of transfer windows' time, he'll make a difference and he will be able to implement his philosophy properly onto the club and that's when we will know."

As for how the Rams have performed so far this season, while he feels "it could be better", O'Connell called for some perspective as they continue to recover from their financial turmoil of the past.

"I'm gasping for a bit of mid-table mediocrity this year and to just have it all wrapped up in a month or two," O'Connell added. "If you zoom out a little bit, you have to have a bit of perspective. I couldn't be happier.

"It takes a while to really properly turn the club around when you consider where we were. The fact that we are being run correctly from the people upstairs is massive, the fact that we've been in a position where we can acquire the likes of Carlton Morris and [Lewis] Travis - they are top players.

"As frustrating as it is at times, it's been a whole lot worse."

Amelia Warren
Fan writer

Image source, Shutterstock

After coming through the ever-chaotic Christmas schedule, the Championship table has started to take its true shape.

For Derby this means sitting comfortably in 13th position, 11 points off the bottom three, with much less to be worried about than this time last season.

The Rams have won the same amount of games as they have lost so far in this campaign and also have an underwhelming goal difference of zero.

However, despite that, it is better than the two sides who currently sit directly above them in the table, with Leicester and QPR standing on -1.

Squad depth and injuries have definitely played a part in Derby's unsettled form, and the Rams' current league position is probably an accurate reflection of the performances we have seen.

One thing I feel has contributed to the form, aside from personnel, is Derby's style of play.

Honestly, I am a fan of John Eustace. I can understand we do not produce the most thrilling displays, but with the squad we have I think the coaching staff are tactically limited with what they can achieve, and we do not have many options to play differently.

The position we find ourselves in is actually fairly impressive to me considering we have limited resources and lost our talisman to injury just over a third of the way through the season.

One thing we have seen the Rams prove this season, is they are a much better 'sit in and play on the break' side, than they are a 'dictate play and take the game to the opposition' team.

This makes them a better away outfit than at home. A point backed-up further by Derby currently having the lowest average possession stats in the whole division, with just 41.9%.

Looking at the home form table compared to the away form table for this season so far Derby rank 20th inside their own stadium, compared to fifth when on our travels.

The best recent example of us benefiting from playing to our strengths on the road came against Birmingham City.

Looking at the goal that was scored by Patrick Agyemang - Derby won the ball back in their own half and instantly launched a forward ball for the pace of Rhian Brewster to run onto. We all know what happened after that.

That is what Derby have been about this season, turning over quickly, breaking, looking to hit the wide areas in behind, and capitalising on their opponents' errors.

Why is this more effective away from home?

Teams tend to be much more aggressive at home than they are away, which presents Derby with many more opportunities to play on the break.

I cannot say it is the most impressive way of playing, but it suits the personnel we have available to us, and it is effective enough to keep us out of danger.

The Rams at the moment are in a transition period and are clearly building for stability, looking to push on next season when we can have an overhaul of the playing staff in the summer and finally have realistic ambitions for the Championship top six again.

For now, it is about accepting our level and knowing we will remain stable which is what we have all cried out for since 2021.

Image source, Shutterstock

Derby County boss John Eustace has rued his side's lack of quality in the final third after their 2-1 loss to Wrexham on Sunday.

The Rams had equalised against the Welsh side through Ben Brereton Diaz but Wrexham restored their one goal advantage shortly after half-time.

"I think we deserved at least a point, the way we started the game was not great, and going a goal down was poor," Eustace told BBC Radio Derby.

"We grew into the first half, we scored a great goal and felt very comfortable, I thought we were very strong.

"Then we started the second half like we started the first half. We wanted to go out there, be on the front foot and we made a couple of mistakes and got punished by a fantastic goal.

"We huffed and puffed in the second half and just lacked that bit of quality in the final third to make something happen."

Derby County head coach John Eustace spoke to BBC Radio Derby following Thursday's 1-0 win against Middlesbrough.

"We started slow and the opposition had two or three really good chances and we rode our luck, but as the game went on we grew into it and adapted a couple of things," he said.

"In the second half I felt a lot more comfortable with out shape. We knew we would get a couple of opportunities and I'm delighted to end up winning 1-0.

"Where we lack with a little bit of quality, we make up with determination, grit and heart. I know that group of players will sweat blood for these fans and I think they did that today.

"They really dug in at difficult moments against a really top team."

Image source, Opta

Derby County will aim to keep in touch with the Championship play-off places when they welcome promotion-chasing Middlesbrough on New Year's Day (15:00 GMT kick-off).

The Rams are 14th and six points behind the top six after a run of just one win in seven games (D3 L3).

Boro missed the chance to close the gap to leaders Coventry with a 1-0 defeat to Hull on Monday night and remain eight points behind, while they are two clear of Ipswich and Hull in third and fourth respectively.

Kim Hellberg won his first four games in charge of Boro, but is now without victory in the past three (D1 L2).

• Derby County are unbeaten in each of their past five home league games against Middlesbrough (W3 D2), since a 2-1 Championship defeat in April 2018.

• Middlesbrough came from behind to beat Derby County 2-1 back in November and could now complete a league double over the Rams for the first time since 2014-15 under Aitor Karanka.

• Derby County have lost their past three league games played on New Year's Day, last avoiding defeat on the opening day of the year in 2019, a 1-1 home draw with Middlesbrough.

• Including 2026, eight of Middlesbrough's previous nine league matches on New Year's Day have come away from home, losing just one of the previous seven on the road (W3 D3).

• Middlesbrough's Morgan Whittaker has been directly involved in six goals in three league appearances on New Year's Day (2 goals, 4 assists), more than any other player in the EFL since 2023.

Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

What a year 2025 was for Derby County.

It began with a thumping 4-2 defeat at Hillsborough by Sheffield Wednesday, which included a goal from inside his own half by Josh Windass.

At that time, there were serious rumblings from supporters about the Rams' trajectory... it was simply going south.

Despite a win at home on Boxing Day 2024 against West Brom at Pride Park, that was only their seventh victory, and little did we know it would be their last until March.

Seven straight defeats and an FA Cup third-round exit on penalties to League One Leyton Orient left many of us believing something had to change. Add to that, the Rams missed out on much-needed coffers in the fourth round as Orient welcomed Manchester City.

A huge decision came on the eve of the Rams' trip to Norwich City in February.

Head coach Paul Warne was sacked and Sportscene went into emergency talk-in mode on the A14 in Cambridgeshire.

Two hard-earned points at Carrow Road and at home to Oxford followed under Matt Hamshaw, while talk of getting John Eustace out of his contract at Blackburn Rovers intensified.

Eustace, an ex-midfield maestro at Pride Park, had previously told me of his fondness for the Rams and how he'd like to return as manager one day. Well, this was the moment.

After protracted negotiations at Ewood Park, Eustace took charge in his first game against QPR at Loftus Road. The Rams were thumped 4-0 and, despite the new dawn, a lot of fragile confidence and overthinking bled into the Rams' performance.

After that, though, things did change. They became organised and harder to beat. Millwall stole a 90th-minute winner in a dull affair at Pride Park, before a late mistake gave Middlesbrough a 1–0 win at the Riverside.

Eustace's practices started to make subtle changes - consistent selection, figuring out who was best where, and how he could make them believe in themselves.

Sondre Langas, Nat Phillips and Matt Clarke became a wall. Loan midfielder Harrison Armstrong took hold of the midfield, and captain Ebou Adams led with passion. Goals were in short supply, but Marcus Harness and Jerry Yates never gave up.

The Rams won four in a row, including a brilliant five-goal thriller at Plymouth.

They were out of the bottom three, and only a couple more wins would see an incredible end to the season and an act of salvation by Eustace. The wins came at West Brom and Hull City, which left some bizarre mathematics on the final day to relegate them. Survival achieved.

In August, expectation was high, but it was tempered by the head coach, who in his first interview with BBC Radio Derby said it would be a slow start as new signings were not up to speed and some players were injured.

He was right. One win in the first 10 games, and a thumping 5-3 home defeat by Coventry City, led to a few minor alarm bells.

But you must trust the process, and what the head coach tells you is true. He was right again. A fully fit squad led to five straight Championship wins and six from seven overall.

Losing new signings Carlton Morris, Lewis Travis, Owen Beck, Max Johnston and David Ozoh to injury has scuppered progression. But they will be back in 2026, which can really cement the Rams in the Championship.

Perspective in football is key. January will see the fourth anniversary of the fans' march from the city centre to Pride Park ahead of the Birmingham City game.

We had no idea what was to come; now we do. And the conversation is full of opinion and expectation, shrouded in the odd spot of gloom. That's football - we have it in Derby, and we pray it never changes.

Dominic Dietrich
BBC Radio Derby Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Derby County are set to make their first signing of the January transfer window with Danish midfielder Oscar Fraulo joining from Borussia Monchengladbach.

The 22-year-old is set to join for a cross-border compensation fee of between €300,000-400,000.

The club have been chasing him for a year, a time span that pre-dates interim recruitment lead Leigh Bromby and head coach John Eustace so this would fall into the category of an asset for the future alongside the likes of Patrick Agyemang, Max Johnston and Sondre Langas.

Eustace confirmed as much to BBC Radio Derby last night, following defeat at Leicester City, suggesting "the club have been looking at him for a while" and he could be "one for the future".

When Derby went for Fraulo last season, they were not alone in their pursuit and offers entered the multi-millions for his services. It has not gone exactly to plan for him since then.

Upon signing for the Rams, he will have played just 40 minutes of competitive football so far this season and will arrive with an independent training programme to get him up to speed with the demands of the Championship and the team.

Derby made training-related mistakes in the January market last season with both winter recruits, Langas and Lars-Jorgen Salvesen, picking up serious knee injuries after being thrown straight in.

The position John Eustace has lacked is that player to unpick a defence and progress the Rams up the pitch.

Can a 22-year-old in his first experience of English football be the answer when fully up to speed? Or will there be more reinforcements for the here and now?

We will find out across the month but this deal is certainly one with an eye into the summer and beyond.

Derby County boss John Eustace spoke to BBC Radio Derby after Monday's 2-1 defeat at Leicester City.

"I'm disappointed to lose the game," he said.

"I thought the lads put 100% in and their attitudes were a different class. We just lacked that quality in the final third, really.

"Those were two really poor goals [to concede] - we switch off, we don't track a runner in midfield and while I thought Tommo [Liam Thompson] was excellent in the game, James was too strong for him and he got in behind.

"With both goals, that little bit of concentration was lost and we were punished for it.

"The effort was there for everyone to see. The group gave their best after a tough game [a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City] a couple of days ago."

Amelia Warren
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

I always remember family get togethers at Christmas being planned around when Derby would be playing. Often not being able to make the journey to away festive fixtures because of time spent with family.

I'd be over the moon if we were at home because it meant leftover sandwiches in the car, new shirts to wear to matches and a way out of having to help set up for the family gathering at home.

My mum and dad were both huge Derby County fans. My mum always followed every game with Radio Derby commentary. My dad took me and my brother to matches on season tickets and also on long away adventures, too.

Two memorable festive fixtures came in consecutive seasons for me.

The first in the 2014-15 campaign when the Rams travelled to a snowy St Andrews to take on Birmingham City. We all gathered round at my aunt's house to watch on TV, as Derby ran out 4-0 winners. The fourth goal coming courtesy of my favourite Rams player of all time, Johnny Russell.

Aged 11, I recall wearing a new home shirt that I'd received the day prior from dad - printed of course with 'Russell 11'. When Johnny scored the fourth goal, I spilt juice down it in celebration.

My dad was quick to try and get me to wipe it down, half telling me off for not being careful enough, half laughing at how typical it was that my favourite Christmas present of the year had only taken 24 hours to ruin.

My mum spent a month afterwards trying various stain removal products on the shirt. Finally succeeding, but at the cost of shrinking it so it no longer fit.

For my birthday that same season I received a new Russell home shirt from mum, this time with a card that stated it must be worn with a bib at all times.

The second Boxing Day fixture a year later saw us play at home to Fulham. Derby went into the match six games unbeaten, and a win would've seen us go to the top of the table.

As a late Christmas surprise my dad drove us down to the game early, so I could meet the players. I happened to be wearing the 'Russell 11' shirt I'd received for my birthday, to replace my spoilt one from the previous Christmas.

Much to my delight, Russell was one of the first players to arrive. My dad and I took a quick snap with him, before someone passed over a pen and he signed my shirt.

Entirely buzzing and starstruck, I couldn't focus much on the game. However, the Rams got the victory to move to the top of the table and go seven games unbeaten, with the south stand belting out a brilliant rendition of Bing Crosby's 'White Christmas' at full time.

My mum sadly passed away in 2019. And tragically, my dad also passed away just five weeks ago, on 20 November.

With two devastating losses, it's difficult to feel Christmas in the same way we once did. The magic of it all seems a little less prominent, and the joy just that little bit dimmed.

Despite this though, the one constant that keeps our Christmas spirit up is Derby County.

Turning up to Pride Park last week for the game against Portsmouth and seeing parents bringing their children to their first match, was so heartwarming.

Knowing that so many other people are going to make those special memories my brother and I got to make with our parents, is just one of the thousands of examples of how key football is in bringing families together, particularly at Christmas.

We also know there were other people in that crowd, just like us, who were probably dreading the festivities taking place, but knew they'd have Derby to use as a distraction.

Attending games and feeling that sense of 'normality' for 90 minutes provides a real comforting relief from grieving.

In the crowd at the King Power tomorrow my brother and I will be reminiscing on fixtures against Leicester that remind us of our parents, while also making more memories together in their honour.

We'll be kitted out in scarves and shirts that they purchased for us in previous years, feeling that they're stood right by us, willing the Rams on with every kick and hopefully pushing us on to a special victory too.

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

Image source, Shutterstock

Derby manager John Eustace was full of his praise for his side after earning a draw at Birmingham City despite playing more than half the game with 10 men.

The Rams boss believed they could even have claimed all three points despite Jo Ward's red card.

"I thought they were excellent. To be down to 10 men for a long period was tough, but the way the lads went about their business today was absolutely outstanding. I was very proud of every one of them," he told BBC Radio Derby.

"The first 10 minutes we got our shape very slightly wrong. After that we took a really good grip of the game.

"We scored a fantastic goal and we knew we would have a bit of pressure to defend, and apart from when they hit the post I don't think they caused us any other issues.

"Even when we went down to 10 men I felt very comfortable, and I'm disappointed we didn't get the three points.

"I thought it was a very soft yellow card [for Joe Ward] but his decision-making for the second was very poor. He has to hold his hands up for that."