Derby County currently sit 21st in the Championship heading into the final two games of the season, with only goal difference separating them from the drop.
However, since the arrival of former Blackburn and Birmingham manager John Eustace, the Rams have taken 17 points from their last 12 games, displaying an incredible turnaround – having only won one of 10 before his appointment.
Eustace has brought about a mental shift which has trickled through the club. Players seem more driven, fans more hopeful and morale is higher even with Derby perilously close to the relegation zone.
Before Eustace, “there was such division in the club and fan base”, Jake Barker of the RamsTalk podcast tells The i Paper.
“He has brought confidence back to the team and fans.”
Eustace’s tactical tweaks
The inclusion of Everton loanee Harrison Armstrong has worked a treat, the 18-year-old making 13 league appearances and establishing himself as a key man in the heart of the midfield.
He has operated alongside Ebou Adams, who has performed well even in defeats, registering six goals and an assist so far this season. Adams has already been named as Derby County’s Supporters’ Club Player of the Season.
Eustace has also made slight tactical reconfigurations, such as using Marcus Harness as a second striker, which has also helped Jerry Yates to regain form with three goals in his last five games.
Derby have mainly used a 3-5-2 system, allowing the wing-backs more freedom to attack in order to present more of a threat in the final third.
What Derby need to stay up
That being said, relegation back to League One is once again a serious possibility – though Eustace refuses to believe a trip to fellow strugglers Hull City is a must-win game.
“It’s a big game, which they’ve all been big games since we came in, and everyone’s looking forward to it,” he said.
“It’s a challenge to get three points. We’ll see how it affects us after the game, but the most important thing is that we’re there, we’re competitive, we stick together, win, lose or draw. We’ll have another opportunity the following week.”
Derby last dropped into the third tier in 2022 after a 21-point deduction with the club in administration. The Rams were in complete and utter disarray, but they fought back to end the season just seven points shy of survival. It only took two seasons for them to gain promotion back to the Championship.
Yet if they lose to Hull and Luton Town win, their hopes of staying up this season look thin. They would then need to beat Stoke City, who currently sit 17th, and hope Luton lose to West Brom. It is not that far-fetched, but it would still present them with a mountain to climb, especially after Derby themselves lost to Luton earlier this month.
Navigating an injury crisis
The Rams’ recent 3-1 win away at West Brom helped to turn the ship around, but their injury list may also prove an issue going into the final two games.
They are without goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, who has a save percentage of 67.5 per cent and has even saved two of the three penalties he’s faced this season.
He will not return until next season after breaking his collarbone.
“These injuries have hit at the worst possible time,” Barker adds. “Zetterstrom being injured is a huge loss.”
Crystal Palace loanee David Ozoh is also expected to be out for the season with a torn thigh muscle, while Curtis Nelson tore knee ligaments in January.
Callum Elder is another big player currently out but is not entirely ruled out, while Ryan Nyambe, Kemar Roofe, Corey Blackett-Taylor and Dajaune Brown have also been sidelined.
Nevertheless spirits remain high leading into the Hull game.
from Football - The i Paper https://ift.tt/dEJ6Nwy
Post a Comment
EmoticonClick to see the code!
To insert emoticon you must added at least one space before the code.