Derby County

Amelia Warren
Fan writer

A player who has received his fair share of criticism among Derby fans this season is Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

The Guatemalan has put in a couple of notable performances - arguably his best of the season came against Portsmouth at Pride Park, where the Rams ran out 4-0 winners.

He was also taking many of Derby's unique, yet highly successful, corners at the beginning of the campaign, which accounted for just over 30% of the Rams' goal tally in the first 10 matches, allowing him to be deemed a real asset in the side.

However, things quickly petered out for the winger.

It seemed as though he'd suddenly lost a yard of pace, combined with the fact the standard of full-backs in this division is of course much higher than League One, making much less room for error for an attacker looking to beat their man.

With this, and a couple of knocks to halt his momentum, the 33-year-old's confidence soon dropped alongside his performance levels, seeing him become less effective for the team with a low goal tally and a lack of assists, despite being one of the Rams' best players last season.

The biggest moment from last season for Mendez-Laing was his valuable goal in the penultimate match at Cambridge United.

After racing on to the ball he showed great composure to round the keeper and slot home for Derby, earning a 1-0 victory that all but secured promotion.

Despite Mendez-Laing's underwhelming displays this season, he once again proved his passion for the club to succeed when the stakes were at their highest on Monday.

Image source, Getty Images

With his first few touches after coming off the bench at the Hawthorns, he raced on to a through ball, coolly chipped Josh Griffiths, and on the angle passed the ball into the far corner to wrap up three crucial points for Derby.

Making the hardest of goals look as if he'd been scoring them all season!

While his criticism has been warranted for the majority of the campaign, Mendez-Laing has now proved he may be a key contributor to Derby's survival, while also proving how much passion he has for the club.

John Eustace takes credit once again for clearly instilling a mentality that every player in this squad has their part to play in this battle for safety.

Every player is buying into it, and every player wants to take their chance to make themselves the hero, regardless of game time, or levels of previous performances.

Huge plaudits to Mendez-Laing - in a season in which he could have let his head completely drop, he kept on believing and his perseverance paid off in the biggest of moments.

It now begs the question of who else in this squad will look at that moment of magic from Mendez-Laing and be inspired to do the same going into a tense, tight and thrilling final two matches.

Corey Blackett-Taylor is back in training, Kemar Roofe is available for selection against Hull City, and of course Mendez-Laing himself will no doubt be in the squad.

It's crunch time. Who will write their name in Derby folklore?

You can often catch Amelia Warren, external as a guest on BBC Radio Derby.

Victory for Hull City on Saturday (15:00 BST) will assure them of Championship football next season, while a win for Derby could move them within sight of another campaign of second-tier football.

• Hull City have won just one of their past 11 league games against Derby (D2 L8), beating them 2-0 in October 2019.

• Derby have alternated between winning (five) and not winning (D1 L3) in their past nine away games against Hull, beating them 1-0 on their last visit in August 2021.

• Hull won their last league game against Preston, but only once this season have the Tigers won consecutive league games (three in a row in September-October).

• Having won just one of their first 18 away league games this season (D5 L12), Derby have now won two of their past four on the road (D1 L1).

• Only Luton have scored fewer goals (41) and have a lower shot conversion rate (8.3%) than Hull City in the Championship this season (43 goals, 8.6% conversion).

Image source, Rex Features

"Time for some nostalgia... let's roll back the years to April 1975"

Colin Gibson is joined by Stuart Webb, Colin Todd, Andy Ellis and Pat Murphy to look back at Derby County's First Division title-winning season, 50 years on.

Listen to the Rams Daily Podcast here via BBC Sounds.

Derby County picked up a vital 3-1 win at West Bromwich Albion in the Championship survival scrap to leave them above the drop zone on goal difference with two games remaining.

The Rams have won two of their past four on the road (D1 L1) and travel to relegation rivals Hull City on Saturday afternoon.

"It's back to the form we've seen," former Derby goalkeeper Eric Steele told the Rams Daily podcast following the victory at The Hawthorns.

"When you look at the performances against Portsmouth, Plymouth and West Brom… really positive results.

"I just think the style with what's available to John Eustace, the way he's actually turned it around, we're better suited away from home, so I'm thinking can we get the fixture with Stoke reversed?

"We've not been anywhere near as convincing at home. At home, we've got to be more on the front foot."

Steele joins BBC Radio Derby's Dominic Dietrich and Ed Dawes on the latest episode, which you can listen to on BBC Sounds.

Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby commentator

Image source, Rex Features

The sense of relief at The Hawthorns on Bank Holiday Monday filtered through from Derby County supporters after their emotions and celebrations had died down.

The scenes in the Smethwick End throughout the game from the 2,542 Rams fans echoed around the stadium.

Derby's third away victory was timely and crucial as four out of the five teams vying not to occupy the bottom three all won.

When that sense of reality dawned, the result was quickly filed and thoughts about the final two matches ensued.

The Rams' performance against a flat West Bromwich Albion was excellent - Albion have huge quality in their squad as was shown with four second half substitutions of Premier League standard.

John Eustace quickly installed Ebou Adams as his captain on arrival in February and the Gambian international leads by example.

His stats burst off the page:

• Most duels won: 10

• Most tackles won: 3

• Most fouled player: 3

• Goals: 1

• Assists: 1

Adams scored Derby's opener with a near post header worked on in training in the week - his fifth Championship goal this season - and did his typical jumping salute.

His character befits the squad's attitude to this relegation battle. Constantly fighting, never giving up and leaving it out on the pitch.

Sadly for the Rams, five wins in nine games is still not enough to confirm survival.

The other teams are finding that kind of form with Luton still battling and Plymouth not done yet.

Looking up, Preston are sleepwalking into a nervy final two games and could quite easily repeat the fate which Birmingham City suffered late on last term.

As for the Rams, whatever happens in the final two matches against Hull City and Stoke, John Eustace has given them a chance. His squad have responded and despite the season-long frailties, survival is in their hands.

Image source, Getty Images

Derby County are giving themselves the best chance they can to avoid relegation from the Championship, according to boss John Eustace.

The Rams won 3-1 at West Brom on Monday to remain outside the Championship relegation zone on goal difference with two games of the season remaining.

"It was an amazing performance, I thought the lads were outstanding - we limited a really good footballing team to next to nothing really," Eustace told BBC Radio Derby.

"We've conceded some sloppy goals this season and the one we conceded was sloppy again but we have to remember (Sondre) Langas is playing with a knee injury and will need some big surgery in the summer so just to get him in the team at the moment is great."

Derby visit Hull City on Saturday with the Tigers only two points above the Rams before finishing their season at home to Stoke City.

"We want to make this club special again and make the fans know whoever puts on the shirt will sweat blood for this club - as long as we keep fighting we'll give ourselves the best chance we can," added Eustace.

Amelia Warren
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

I think most fans would agree that if Derby are going to stay up, we are never going to do it the easy way. The easy way just isn't the 'Derby way'.

Having a huge chance against Luton Town on Friday to put a bit of daylight between us and the bottom three felt so precious. But the 1-0 defeat unfortunately feels like a big opportunity squandered in the fight for survival.

Going into the game it felt like more of a "want to win, but must not lose" for us, and I'd say more of a "want to win and need to win" for Luton.

I think that showed through the performances of both sides throughout the afternoon too. Derby were quite sloppy in possession in comparison to how they have been in recent weeks, and looked a yard off it at times.

Luton on the other hand, although not posing too much of an attacking threat, defended like their lives depended on it, throwing their bodies on the line on more than one occasion to ensure their crucial lead stayed intact, they just seemed like they wanted it that little bit more.

Perhaps the biggest question for John Eustace to answer is why we have reverted back to playing with wingers in the last couple of games, when things were previously working really well for us with an extra body in midfield and two more central attackers.

The general consensus among fans on Friday was that the game was lost in midfield and cried out for a player like Liam Thompson.

We got overrun in the first half, and although every player gave 110% to try and get us back into it in the second, there were still gaps in the middle of the park that caused us to lose out on possession multiple times from not being able to win first and second balls.

Thompson has been exceptional in Derby's midfield when called upon this season, providing a balance to the midfield which has brought the best out of our attack and defence.

Not to mention, Tommo started in every game when the Rams went on their winning run from the start of March to the beginning of April. In fact, the Rams only lost one game in the last six matches that the youngster made a start in, so you can understand why there's a little bit of confusion to see him lose his place in the starting line up to the likes of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Kayden Jackson, who many would agree have underperformed this season.

Potentially the absence of Callum Elder has a part to play too.

We definitely miss the Aussie's positivity down the left hand side, as well as his solidity defensively, despite the stellar job that Craig Forsyth has done since stepping into his place.

Perhaps losing Elder has meant we've had to try and find a little more attacking prowess through the use of wingers, however I actually believe we're worse off for it, and would like to see Eustace revert back to our more successful 3-5-2 system when we travel to West Brom on bank holiday Monday.

Defeat to the Hatters has left us on level points with them, and only out of the bottom three on goal difference. It now feels crucial that Derby bounce back against the Baggies and get something from the game, with no doubt even more twists and turns to come before the Easter period comes to an end.

You can often catch Amelia Warren, external as a guest on BBC Radio Derby.

"Luton Town were simply better this afternoon. To be honest, I didn't see this one coming.

"They've done us at our own game in all fairness. We just weren't at the races in the first-half and it heaps massive, massive pressure on the next two away games."

BBC Radio Derby's Dominic Dietrich, Ed Dawes and ex-Derby striker Malcolm Christie react to the Rams' defeat to fellow Championship strugglers Luton Town, which leaves County teetering just above the relegation zone on goal difference.

The episode includes post-match interviews with Derby boss John Eustace and central defender Matt Clarke.

The team also read and react to your views following the full-time whistle at Pride Park.

Listen to the full post-match reaction and more on the Rams Daily podcast.

Image source, PA Media

Derby County head coach John Eustace spoke to BBC Radio Derby after his side suffered a 1-0 defeat by relegation rivals Luton Town.

"The first half wasn't what we had been like and what we expected, so that is disappointing," Eustace said.

"We looked a little bit anxious. It was a big game, it's a full house and I thought Luton set up really well and made it really difficult for us and we just couldn't get our game going.

"But the way we approached the second half was excellent and the attitude of the group was good.

"In the second half the effort of the group was fantastic, we had two or three golden chances that we just couldn't put away.

"The most important thing is that we react on Monday [when Derby face West Bromwich Albion], which I know we will. We are a team of fighters."

"When I'm not playing football, I'm watching it.

"There are going to be comparisons to players but I want to be my own player."

Dominic Dietrich interviews midfielder Harrison Armstrong ahead of the Rams' crucial clash with fellow relegation strugglers Luton Town on Good Friday.

The pair also go in-depth on Armstrong's admiration of Luka Modric and his plans of returning to parent club Everton.

Listen to the full post-match reaction and more on the Rams Daily podcast.

Only one defeat in their past seven games and a tally of 14 points from a possible 21 has given Derby County under John Eustace a real chance of staying up.

The Rams are one point clear of the drop zone with four games to go.

Luton are scrapping to avoid a second straight relegation after a troubled campaign and know a win over Derby, although not enough to get out of the bottom three, would take them level on points with the Rams and behind them only on goal difference.

It's a huge game at lunchtime on Good Friday (12:30 BST) for both sides' chances of being in the Championship next season.

• Derby are unbeaten in their past 10 home league games against Luton (W5 D5) since a 3-2 defeat at the Baseball Ground in May 1990.

• Luton are looking for their first league double over Derby since the 1989-90 top-flight campaign.

• Derby have won each of their past four league games on Good Friday and are the only team to win on that day in every season between 2020-21 and 2023-24.

• Luton have won two of their past 14 league games on Good Friday (D7 L5) but are unbeaten in their past two (W1 D1).

• Derby's Jerry Yates has scored nine Championship goals this season, only in 2022-23 has he ever reached double figures in the competition (14 with Blackpool).

Dominic Dietrich
BBC Radio Derby journalist

Image source, Rex Features

The important thing to note with four games to go, safety is currently in Derby County's hands.

And as they get ready for a season-defining Easter weekend, there is no bigger game than Luton this Friday for the Rams with many comparing it to the importance of last season's promotion-shaping win at home against Bolton Wanderers in League One.

Derby have shown a resurgence since the arrival of John Eustace, losing just one of their past seven, but three points is what they'll need on Friday lunchtime to put some daylight between themselves and the Hatters.

As ever, only three points is up for grabs but the chance to get one over on a team around them is an opportunity they can't afford to pass up.

This is an opportunity they have in three of the remaining four, firstly with Luton, then a trip to play-off-chasing West Brom before back-to-back relegation clashes against Hull City and Stoke City to round it off.

This Derby County team under Eustace have developed a steely structure that has been able to keep the club heading in the right direction but the job is far from done despite their brilliant work to turn this around.

As defender Kane Wilson said post-match at Fratton Park, to let all their hard work of promotion last season go to waste with an immediate relegation back to the third tier would be a damming outcome and the questions of how and why will begin.

Should they have appointed Eustace sooner? Did recruitment cost them? Who is responsible? I guess we'll find out...

Image source, Rex Features

Derby County boss John Eustace has heaped praise on Kane Wilson ahead of his side's big clash against fellow relegation strugglers Luton Town on Good Friday.

Wilson, 25, is out of contract at the end of the season and before a potentially season-defining Easter period, which also includes a trip to West Brom on Monday, Eustace said he has been a long-term admirer of the defender.

"I think Kane's a fantastic young player who I'm really enjoying working with and who I'd love to keep working with," Eustace told BBC Radio Derby.

"He's been excellent, he's a player I watched a lot when he was younger at West Brom and when I was at Kidderminster, I actually looked at trying to get him on loan."

Eustace also confirmed winger Corey Blackett-Taylor, who has missed the previous 13 league matches with a hamstring injury, is back in first-team training but is not ready to make his long-awaited return to action over the Easter weekend.

"I haven't seen any of Corey since I've been here so that was really exciting to watch him train today," he added.

"It will be a bit too early for him in the next couple of games but it gave everyone a boost to have him on the training pitch."

Eustace also confirmed left-back Callum Elder remains unavailable admitting, "he's not progressing as well as we'd like", while Norwegian defender Sondre Langas is a doubt for the Luton game and will be assessed again on Thursday afternoon.

"You can draw parallels to Rory McIlroy's performance on Sunday. You've got to be up for the performance and I thought Derby did that brilliantly."

"I thought a draw was a fair result. Portsmouth played their part in a major, major game."

BBC Radio Derby's Dominic Dietrich and former Derby goalkeeper Eric Steele discuss the fallout from the Rams' 2-2 draw at Portsmouth on Saturday.

The pair also take your calls and look ahead to Derby's clash with fellow relegation strugglers Luton Town at Pride Park on Good Friday.

Listen to the full post-match reaction and more on the Rams Daily podcast.

"The boys will be disappointed but in the end, I think they will look at it and go 'wow'.

"To come here, do that, concede a penalty early on, shows the fight, shows the spirit."

The Rams Daily team are joined by former Derby County goalkeeper Eric Steele to discuss the positives from the Rams' 2-2 draw at Portsmouth despite losing their lead in the 91st minute.

The podcast includes interviews with boss John Eustace and right-back Kane Wilson.

Listen to the full post-match reaction and more on the Rams Daily podcast.

Amelia Warren
Fan writer

Derby's hard fought point on Tuesday against Burnley meant the Rams took plenty of positives down to Portsmouth this weekend.

As expected a tense and fiery atmosphere circled around Fratton Park before kick-off, with neither side guaranteed Championship survival for next season just yet.

The atmosphere that was probably at 75% electricity before kick-off, turned up way past 100 only five minutes into the game, as Rams goalkeeper Jacob Zetterstrom went from zero to hero, first giving away a penalty, and then saving the resulting spot kick in front of a sold out Derby away following.

Rams fans roared in jubilation as Zetterstrom dived down to his left and tipped Colby Bishop's penalty away, whilst home fans put their heads in their hands.

The Championship once again proving to be truly box office stuff, and there was still 85 minutes left to play!

The five yellow cards picked up between both teams in the first half tells you all you need to know about the cauldron of emotion Fratton Park had become in the opening stages.

The consensus from the away end, and across social media at half-time was that Derby would be happy to take a point from this one.

Although Pompey were slightly more in control heading into the break, it was already becoming apparent that this contest would be decided by the finest of margins.

If the first half seemed nerve racking, the second half was going to raise the blood pressure of both sets of supporters even more.

The contest truly came alive just inside the 70th minute.

Veteran Craig Forsyth has been excellent for Derby in the last few weeks, continuing to defy expectations and produce game changing performances week in week out.

36 years old, 16 managers, 318 appearances, and a testimonial later, Fozzy continues to leave everything out on the pitch for Derby in every game he plays.

As Derby prayed for an opening, the Scot recycled his own long throw and provided an assist for Rams' top scorer Jerry Yates.

Forsyth crossed, Yates rose, the net bulged, and the away end? Bedlam.

As Derby fans had just about picked themselves up from the stairwell following the celebrations, and those at home had just sat back down after jumping out of their seats, Pompey equalised.

Poor defending at the front post from a corner saw Rob Atkinson get Portsmouth back into it.

Derby fans couldn't quite believe it had taken little over a minute for all their side's hard work to come undone. From jubilation, to frustration, a familiar feeling for the Rams this season.

One thing Derby have got much better at under John Eustace is making sure they are never down and out.

Eustace rallied his troops, and Ebou Adams showed his leadership qualities, gesturing to the rest of his team that Derby were ready to go again and continue to battle. The Rams weren't ready to roll over.

Atkinson this time chose to go from hero to zero. Kayden Jackson spun a tricky to defend ball into the box and Atkinson could only deflect the cross past his own goalkeeper to put Derby back into the lead, just four minutes after Pompey had drawn level.

Remember when I said bedlam? Try raptures.

Heading into stoppage time the Derby faithful were in fine voice, chants of "We are Derby County and we are staying up" rung out around Fratton Park before one last twist would deny them from taking all three points back up to the East Midlands.

This game was all about Atkinson, a booking, a goal, an own goal, and now another goal.

A 91st-minute equaliser from a long ball forward sent the Pompey crowd wild, with Rams fans stunned to silence at the other end, and once again left very disappointed by more dubious defending.

Adams collapsed to the floor, Nat Phillips hammered his fist into the ground, and fans stood with their hands behind their heads as a crucial three points had slipped out of Derby's grasp in the dying embers, not for the first time this season.

The full time whistle went with a complete mixture of emotions amongst Derby supporters, players, and staff.

Despite the draw feeling more like a loss due to the last minute drama, the Rams battled well to earn a point.

Pompey, would've felt hard done by to take nothing from the game, and Derby perhaps would've felt rather fortunate to take all three points.

A point was overall the fairest result for both sides, but after coming so close to a crucial victory, you can't help but feel slightly deflated to see two points slip away so late on, particularly when conceding a goal that felt totally avoidable.

Despite this though, the overriding emotion from the majority of the Derby faithful was pride, with no complaints about how much effort and heart their side had put in to come away with something from the game.