INTERVIEW: Eustace Speaks Ahead of Saints Clash

John Eustace says his Derby County side are ‘in high spirits’ ahead of their Sky Bet Championship meeting with Southampton on Saturday.

The Derby boss reflected on an assured 2-0 home win against Stoke City to cap off the Easter fixtures last time out and looked ahead to a tough test on Saturday with a trip to St. Mary’s Stadium.

The Rams’ victory came at a cost, though, with striker Patrick Agyemang ruled out for the foreseeable future after sustaining a serious Achilles injury during the match against the Potters.

Derby will travel to face an in-form Southampton side, who occupy the sixth-place play-off spot after a run of 13 league games unbeaten under the tutelage of Head Coach Tonda Eckert – most recently dispatching Wrexham 5-1 on Tuesday night.

Eustace spoke with RamsTV as his side gears up for their clash on the South Coast.

On Matt Clarke’s Championship Player of the Month and Bobby Clark’s Young Player of the Season Nominations

They have been top performers this year. Neither of them has really missed a game for us. Mr Reliable, Matt Clarke, has been outstanding at the back for us, and has been a magnet in both boxes.

With Bobby, the progression he's made since coming in has been great; I remember the West Brom game away in the Cup when we gave him his first start for us. He hadn't had much of a pre-season, and the way he has progressed from that game to now, it's sensational.

He's a top young player, huge talent, and we've been very fortunate to have him here. Hopefully, we can have him for a bit longer.

On Carlton Morris Getting Back to His Best and in the EFL Team of the Week

He's had a number of good performances recently, too. It was a continuation of the Birmingham game. I thought we were excellent against Birmingham with him without the ball, and we certainly were the same again against Stoke.

On the back of a really difficult game on Friday night away at Coventry, the way we went about our business on the front foot, we played some really good stuff.

To come away from the Championship leaders and get nothing could have really affected the group, but it didn't. If anything, it made us want to get the three points even more and put in a really solid performance, and I think we did that.

On Facing In-form Opponents, Southampton

We went to their game against Wrexham, and they're an excellent team. They're in a really good moment, so it's going to be a difficult game for us, but one we're really looking forward to.

They've got an exceptional squad. Two top players in each position, probably three top players in each position. And over the course of the Championship, that certainly helps for sure.

But the boys are in really good spirits. They've been training very well, so I'm very pleased.