Three changes John Eustace has already made at Derby to revive Championship survival hopes
Three changes John Eustace has already made at Derby to revive Championship survival hopes
From needing a miracle to being right back in the hunt for survival, Derby County couldn’t have asked for a better week under John Eustace than this.
The Rams were seven points adrift at the bottom of the Championship table, without a win since Boxing Day and facing relegation to League One.
The momentum has seemingly shifted though, with Derby beating Eustace’s old side Blackburn to pick up a first win under the head coach.
That was just the start though as Pride Park played host to an in-form Coventry City side that looked play-off bound under Frank Lampard.
Derby put an end to their incredible winning run as goals from Matt Clarke and Marcus Harness sunk the Sky Blues to record another three points to their tally.
Like London Buses, John Eustace has waited for that first win and then manages two wins in a matter of days, with a place outside of the bottom three just one point away.
The head coach has made a few changes that have helped the side, so with that said, here’s a look at the moves he has made to make Championship survival a real possibility again.
John Eustace has changed Ebou Adams’ position
One key change that Eustace has made so far surrounds Ebou Adams, who has become something of a hero since joining Derby.
His loan spell last year helped invigorate the team towards automatic promotion, with a permanent transfer warmly welcomed by the fans afterwards.
The step back up to the Championship has come with mixed fortunes for the midfielder, who has shown elite powers of recovery but sometimes without the requisite quality required.
Under Paul Warne, Adams would often sit deeper in midfield but didn’t always have the touch to receive the ball from the backline.
So far under Eustace, the Gambian international has played on the right of a three-man midfield, which has given him the license to get forward.
The 29-year-old has rarely had to get involved in the build-up play, instead using his ball-carrying ability and energy to get around the pitch.
Adams was incredibly useful against Coventry, not least with his running into the right channel, at times acting like a winger or a wing-back.
Harrison Armstrong’s introduction has helped Derby
There was frustration from Derby fans on the winter transfer deadline day as the club failed to get a move done for another forward option.
What perhaps went under the radar was the arrival of Harrison Armstrong, who joined on loan from Everton for the rest of the season.
The youngster only recently made his debut for the side but a player of the match performance against Blackburn was followed up by another impressive display against Coventry.
Armstrong’s tall stature means he snaps into physical duels well, winning plenty of the challenges in areas that can turn a game either way.
He brings energy to the central areas too, offering everything the side needs to battle their way towards safety.
Matt Clarke has solved Derby’s passing problems
Another January addition for Derby has been Matt Clarke, who is back at Pride Park for his third spell at the club.
The centre-back has hardly missed a beat since returning, slotting nicely into a back three that has looked resolute.
Perhaps even greater than his defensive ability has been the composure on the ball that he has brought to the team.
The centre-back has often driven from the back with relative ease, picking out the right passes and dictating play.
Those moments have eliminated the need for a midfielder, like Adams, to drop deeper and receive the ball from the backline.
In turn, that has allowed the midfielders to push forward and look forward in their play, all thanks to Clarke playing like a quarter-back.
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