Not The Top 20’s George Elek believes John Eustace is a “very good appointment” for Derby County but believes that “right now it seems more likely than ever that they will get relegated”.
The games are coming thick and fast for the Rams, and the new head coach, who left Blackburn Rovers to return to Pride Park, will be under intense pressure to guide them to safety in the final 13 matches of the season.
The Rams have had a terrible start to 2025 and decided to sack Paul Warne in early February after a run of seven consecutive defeats caused them to drop from a position of relative safety to 22nd.
Since Warne’s departure, they have only two points from three games. Eustace’s debut game in charge was a 4-0 loss to Queens Park Rangers, who played in the style of Ilias Chair.
Despite a heavy defeat in his opening game, Not The Top 20’s Elek still believes it is a strong appointment from County and that, given time, Eustace can take the Rams forward.
“I think it is a very good appointment from Derby,” said Elek.
“It is the kind of appointment that works very well. If Eustace does take them down, he will be the perfect kind of manager to take them back up again.
“If you look at the style of play that gets teams promoted out of League One, Eustace fits it very well. He will build a good, strong, resolute side who have no issue in terms of creating chances but will be built on a very solid defence. If you look at Paul Warne, for example, yes, the style of play is a bit more attritional, and he may take the physicality side to a whole different degree, but when you are a big side looking to bounce back to the Championship, looking at a pragmatist rather than an ideologist is the best way to go about it.”
He added: “I think he should also improve them immediately in terms of their defensive work. But, I can’t shake the feeling that their performances since Warne left have flashed the warning signs. They were poor against Oxford in the 0-0 draw and they were really poor here (QPR defeat), especially from an attacking perspective. I don’t think we can hold anything against Eustace. He and his managerial methods had nothing to do with that poor performance, and if we see an improvement, it will come in time.
“Despite, in my mind, Warne for Eustace being an upgrade, right now it seems more likely than ever that they will get relegated – even with Eustace at the helm.”
Derby County have 13 games to save their season
Derby were expected to finish midtable, but are now fighting for Championship qualification.
They will have no wish to return to the third division right away, knowing that leaving League One is never easy, regardless of a club’s stature.
Eustace has 13 games to try to have a difference on a season he has had little influence over thus far, and it may be too late, with several of the bottom teams beginning to improve their form.
They face challenging games against play-off contenders in the coming weeks, but then they have a reasonably easy run-in that they will be anxious to take advantage of.
The new head coach will be hoping to guide his side to safety and keep them in the Championship next season, but if that fails, he could be the appropriate man to assist secure an immediate return next year.
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