BBC Radio Derby's Rams Weekly podcast has returned with a wide-ranging review of Derby County's Championship season to date, with Malcolm Christie, Dominic Dietrich and Ed Dawes casting their eye over everything from the club's best moments of the campaign to the injury difficulties that have tested the squad's depth.

A season of contrasts at Pride Park

Derby's Championship season has been one of sharp contrasts. The Rams have produced performances capable of raising genuine excitement among supporters, yet those have too often been offset by setbacks, not least a mounting injury list that has forced the management to repeatedly reshuffle. The latest episode of Rams Weekly, published on 24 September, gives fans an opportunity to hear three informed voices weigh up exactly where the club stands at this point in the campaign.

Christie, a former Derby striker who knows the club intimately, joined regular contributors Dietrich and Dawes to pick through the season's defining moments. The conversation, according to BBC Radio Derby, covers the highs and lows of the campaign as well as the injury situation that has been a recurring theme throughout the opening weeks.

Injuries clouding an otherwise encouraging start

The fitness picture at Derby has been a source of real frustration this season. The recent absence of goalkeeper Zetterstrom, confirmed as a two-month lay-off, illustrated the fragility of a squad that is still finding its feet at Championship level. The Rams have also had to manage uncertainty around other key personnel, with the injury scare involving Peretz adding further anxiety ahead of a recent fixture.

For a side operating in the second tier and aiming to establish itself after the turbulence of recent years, keeping key players fit and available is as important as anything that happens tactically on the pitch. When the podcast panel discuss the lows of the season, injuries are understood to feature prominently in that conversation.

The high points, meanwhile, have offered supporters reason for optimism. Derby have shown at various stages of the campaign that they possess the quality to compete at this level, and the panel are well placed to identify which results and performances have genuinely moved the needle.

Where does this leave Derby in the table?

The Championship is notoriously unforgiving, and any prolonged spell of inconsistency can quickly drag a side into uncomfortable territory in the standings. Derby's recent encounter with Burnley at Turf Moor, which ended 1-1, underlined the fine margins at play: a point gained in difficult circumstances, but also two dropped in a game that had the feel of a genuine six-pointer given the positions of both clubs at the time.

The mood among supporters appears to be one of cautious engagement rather than alarm, with the fan verdicts from recent fixtures suggesting a fanbase that is watching closely and willing to give the team time, provided the injury issues begin to ease and performances continue to show signs of progression.

Listen to Rams Weekly

The full episode is available now on BBC Sounds. Supporters can subscribe to Rams Weekly through the BBC Sounds app to receive each new episode directly into their feed. Pre-match, post-match and wider Rams content is also available through the Derby County channel on the platform.

For a squad and a fanbase navigating the ups and downs of a demanding Championship season, having a trusted, regular outlet to process events is no small thing. With a busy run of fixtures ahead, there will be no shortage of material for Christie, Dietrich and Dawes to work through in the weeks to come.

Frequently asked

Where can I listen to the Derby County Rams Weekly podcast?
Rams Weekly is available on BBC Sounds. You can subscribe through the app to get each new episode delivered directly to your My Sounds feed.
What injuries has Derby County had this season?
Derby have been hit by a number of fitness setbacks this season, most notably goalkeeper Zetterstrom being ruled out for around two months. There have also been injury scares involving other squad members, which the Rams Weekly podcast discusses in its latest episode.
How has Derby County's Championship season gone so far?
Derby's campaign has been a mixed one, featuring some encouraging performances alongside frustrating results and a difficult run of injuries. The BBC Radio Derby panel review the key highs and lows in the latest Rams Weekly episode.