INTERVIEW: Eustace Previews Pompey Trip

John Eustace says his Derby County squad will have to show adaptability in the closing stages of the season, as they head to Portsmouth on Monday night (8pm kick-off).

The Rams will aim to return to winning ways with nine games remaining in the Sky Bet Championship season, following a narrow defeat to Millwall in South-East London on Tuesday night.

Since the midweek match-up, the Rams have confirmed a new one-year contract extension for defender Joe Ward.

The Derby boss has also spoken about Josh Vickers’ injury status after the shot-stopper came off the field of play as a second-half substitute at the Den – admitting his Rams side will have to ‘find different ways to perform’ as the season enters its business end.

Eustace caught up with RamsTV ahead of the trip to Pompey.

On being dealt recent injury blows

Of course, there is frustration. However, we have had this problem at the start of the season as well, in the first ten games. We have to find different ways to perform and pick up points. That won't be any different in the remaining nine games. The team will be ready, competitive, and prepared, and it should be an exciting final part of the season.

On the challenge of facing Portsmouth

They’re a really exciting team, especially at home, and very hard to play against. They're fighting for their lives; we're fighting for our lives as well. We want to finish up as high as we can in the league, and it should be a good game on Monday.

We want to win every match - it won't be any different at Fratton Park. We're lucky enough that we're pushing at the right end of the table now, and we want to finish as high as we can.

On the difference in circumstances from the last visit to Portsmouth

The great progress we have made throughout the year is very evident. We're certainly not the finished article, and we'd love to have a few more points.

I think over the course of the season up to now, we've been through some lows and some highs. It's important now that we finish the season off as high as we can and as well as we can. Monday is an opportunity to go there and be competitive.