PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW: Eustace looks ahead to Hull clash at Pride Park

Head Coach John Eustace says Derby County are ‘certainly not the finished article’ as they continue to make steps in the right direction.

The Rams have picked up three successive wins in the Sky Bet Championship in the last two weeks, with 1-0 home wins over Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers backed up with an impressive 3-1 success at Sheffield United on Saturday.

After a summer overhaul of the squad following survival on the final day of the 2024/25 campaign, Eustace’s new-look group is making progressive steps with new relationships being formed on and off the pitch in addition to players making their returns from spells out injured.

Next up for Derby is a home fixture against Hull City on Tuesday evening and Eustace spoke to RamsTV on Monday lunchtime to preview the midweek meeting with the Tigers at Pride Park (7:45pm kick-off).

On the win at Sheffield United on Saturday…

I was very happy; it was a professional performance from us. It was nice to score three goals as well in a game that we deserved to win.

On the performances of the team and the team togetherness continuing to grow…

I have seen progression for sure, but there is still lots of hard work ahead. That is the exciting part for me. We know we’re certainly not the finished article; we’ve had couple of good results. The lads have been amazing, and attitude of the boys has been different class. There’s a lot of football still to be played, it is a long season, and I am excited to work with the group and see us progress. The lads know the division and are aware there are ups and downs in the Championship. As long as throughout the season we are progressing, doing the right things and are competitive in every game, that is all I ask for. This league can easily bite you on the bum if you think you’ve made it. It is also character building too, sticking together in tough moments and that is a sign of good recruitment and a good dressing room. We’ve seen that with the boys getting around those that have been injured. That togetherness will only get stronger throughout the season and they’re all a pleasure to be working with.

On the connection between the players and supporters…

It is massively important. If you want to be successful at any club, the fans must be connected with the players. As long the fans can see that commitment, sweating blood for the shirt and the badge, then we’ll get that. We saw the connection in the second half of last season, it was amazing. It is important we keep building that this year, especially when we have difficult moments, stick together and look at the bigger picture.

On Curtis Nelson making his comeback for the Under-21s on Friday…

Everyone was delighted to see Nels playing for the Under-21s on Friday. He is a real character in the group. Even though he hasn’t been able to perform on the pitch, he has been a top professional off it. He is great character and in the difficult times last season he was right behind the boys, while this year he has helped the new players and made them feel part of the Derby County family.

On Hull City coming to Pride Park on Tuesday evening…

They’ve been on an excellent run lately. They’ve got some really good players. They are coached very well, so it’ll be a difficult game. It is one we are looking forward to. We were disappointed not to win at home before the last two victories at Pride Park, but the fans stuck right behind us, and it has been important for the players to know what it feels like to win at home. It means everything.