REACTION: Eustace and Langås look back on Portsmouth draw

Head Coach John Eustace and defender Sondre Langås were on post-match media duty following Derby County’s 1-1 draw with Portsmouth at Pride Park Stadium in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The Rams came back from a goal down early on to extend their unbeaten run in league action to three matches ahead of their packed festive schedule.

Callum Lang scored after six minutes to put Pompey ahead, cutting in from the right-hand side and skipping past a couple of challenges before firing a powerful effort into the corner from 12 yards out.

Derby drew level on the stroke of half-time after Joe Ward's low cross into the box was turned into his own net by visiting defender Hayden Matthews under pressure from Patrick Agyemang, who was in line for a tap-in, to round off a slick passage of play down the right wing.

Visiting goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid produced an excellent reflex save from a close-range Agyemang header to deny the Rams a win at the death as they pushed for all three points.

Eustace spoke to RamsTV after the final whistle to offer his assessment on Derby’s final outing of 2025 at Pride Park Stadium.

On The Draw:

I'm happy with the point. I would have loved three points, of course, and built on the great win at Sheffield Wednesday on Monday. The attitude of the boys was excellent and we kept going after falling behind early on. The effort the boys have put in today, we're all disappointed we didn't get three points.

The way we came back was good. It was frustrating at times because I don't think we showed enough quality really to go on and win the game. We created some good chances, but we need to be braver, and we need to be better with the ball, we know that.

There's lots to build on, we've got the second half of the season coming up now and there's lots to improve on. We're on 31 points, which is not a bad return up to now. We've just got to keep learning, keep building and keep moving forward.

On Going Behind After Starting Well:

We started really well, but then we didn't get set properly from their goal-kick. If you don't get organised quickly enough, you get punished. It was a great goal from their part, a disappointing one from ours.

For about 15 minutes of that first half, I thought we reacted really well. Then we lost our way a little tiny bit in the second half. We came out on the front foot and, on another day, we could have won the game. When we get opportunities, we've got to be clinical and take them.

On Being Three Unbeaten Going Into Christmas:

On the back of a couple of disappointing defeats, we've bounced back. We've made ourselves a little bit harder to play against again. There's lots to work on, but we need to improve in all areas, of course we do. The effort of the group this year has been amazing, and we're going to need more of that going into 2026.

Langås, who wore the armband for the second successive fixture with Lewis Travis out injured and Ebou Adams named on the bench, also spoke to RamsTV following the final whistle to offer his assessment on the side’s draw with Pompey ahead of the Christmas schedule.

On The Result:

I feel it was a game to win, but unfortunately, we couldn't do that today. We were a bit sloppy on the ball and, of course, when you concede a goal early on you make it a bit harder. It was good character from the boys to get back level and we just couldn’t get that second goal.

I felt before they scored, we had a few chances. Suddenly they just came through and I am just annoyed about the goal we conceded. When that happens, you just have to believe in yourself. You have to just breathe and just do as you've been planning to do. We did that and got back level before half-time. Unfortunately, we didn't get the three points, but it's how it is.

On Captaining The Side:

It is a big honour to wear the armband and I'm very pleased to get that and go out first with the team. You just have to lead by example and I know what the gaffer demands from me. I have to show it and try to be a leader.

On Looking Ahead To The Christmas Games:

You just have to look to get the three points in the next match, always, but it was good to not lose the game today. We just have to keep on going and get the three points when we go to Birmingham in our next match.