The Rams got their 2024/25 Championship season off to a nightmare start on Friday, August 9th.
Paul Warne took his newly promoted outfit to Ewood Park, seeing Derby County lose 4-2 to Blackburn Rovers.
Blackburn were not a top team in the second division last term, ending the previous campaign sat in 19th place.
But after they rolled over Derby with relative ease, fans of the club were no doubt very nervous when they welcomed Middlesbrough to Pride Park on August 17th.
Following the match, Warne was understandably in high spirits.
He had just watched his side pick up what could prove to be one of their biggest wins of the 2024/25 season.
In a further boost for Derby, Jacob Widell Zetterstrom finally made the move to England ahead of the Boro match.
Zetterstrom was not involved on Saturday but watched on from the stands as his new team secured the three points.
Speaking after the match, Warne was quizzed on the 26-year-old by BBC Sport Derby and made a hilarious joke.
The Rams boss labelled Zetterstrom a ‘handsome devil’ and claimed he will sell more club calendars than any other player.
He said: “He’s got a good reputation, really intelligent lad, you’d be surprised when you watch his interview.
“And he will sell a lot of calendars. I think he’ll sell more calendars than any other player. It will be great when the calendar comes out because he’ll be doing September then October, November, and December, and then one of the lads will try and get in the background of one of the photos.
“So yes, he’s a handsome devil and smooth guy.”
Derby have been crying out for a new goalkeeper since Joe Wildsmith left the club earlier this summer in something of a shock exit.
With Wildsmith gone, Josh Vickers has taken up the number-one role during pre-season and the early stages of the proper campaign.
The 28-year-old shipped four on the opening day, leading to question marks over his ability to play in the Championship.
However, Warne praised Vickers heavily after Middlesbrough, stating the keeper has been ‘phenomenal’.
Vickers was arguably the club’s best player in their shock 1-0 win over Boro. The away outfit dominated the game and ended up having 20 shots on goal.
However, in no small part due to their keeper’s efforts, Derby were able to keep the likes of Emmanuel Latte Lath and Delano Burgzorg quiet.
As a result, though it seemed obvious Zetterstrom would come straight into the eleven once he finally signed, Warne may now have to keep Vickers in the team after his stellar showing at the weekend.
