PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW: ‘We are prepared for a difficult game with the backing of the magnificent Pride Park crowd’ - Eustace

Derby County Head Coach John Eustace noted the importance of the ‘magnificent’ Pride Park crowd ahead of a tough Sky Bet Championship test against Luton Town on Friday (12:30pm kick-off).

The Rams will face the Hatters on Good Friday after they gained another point on the board in a frantic away fixture at Fratton Park last Saturday, with Portsmouth chasing Derby all the way in a 2-2 draw.

With four games to go, opponents Luton sit 23rd in the Championship, three points behind the Rams, who are in 21st place just outside the bottom three.

Eustace caught up with RamsTV ahead of Friday's Easter football action at Pride Park Stadium.

On the feeling heading into the Good Friday fixture against Luton Town…

The mood's really good and we gained a good point on Saturday at Portsmouth. The lads had a day off on Sunday and came back in on Monday to start our work again.

On the manner of performance against Portsmouth…

The way the lads battled and kept to the task was really pleasing. Obviously, to take the lead twice and to be pegged back twice is disappointing. Overall, Fratton Park is a very difficult place to go to. The game was hectic. It was end-to-end, and I was just proud of the way the lads went about their business.

On maintaining focused and level-headed with four fixtures remaining…

It is another tough game on Friday. Luton have lots of experience, Premier League experience. They recruited very well over the summer and in January. We know it's going to be a really difficult game, but it's another one we're looking forward to. It's all about the next challenge ahead. If you start looking too far ahead and getting carried away with things, then it can be a problem. The most important thing is that now we focus on a really tough test on Friday, and one we'll be prepared for.

On the backing of the Pride Park crowd…

The crowd have been magnificent. Home and away, they've been right behind the boys. There was another 2,000 away at Portsmouth on Saturday, right behind the lads. The fans have been fantastic in all the matches up to now, and it will be no different on Friday. I know they'll be right behind the group, as they always will be.