Opposition View: Derby County (H)

Chris chats to Jack Bryan from Rams Review...

Two teams at opposite ends of the table face off on Easter Monday but both with plenty on the line.

Derby went a staggering 12 games without a win after their victory over Albion on Boxing Day and even more startlingly, the two goals they scored that day would be the last the Rams would bag on home soil for around 3 and a half months.

Needless to say, things have improved under John Eustace since those dark days so how are the visitors from the East Midlands feeling about their bank holiday trip to The Hawthorns.

We asked Jack Bryan from Rams Review to find out.

John Eustace seems to have had an enormous impact, why do you believe this is?

More than anything, he’s brought the belief back - his “fighters not victims” mantra reflecting the change in the side’s mentality. But as well as being a good motivator, who instantly got the fans onside due to his playing career, Eustace has found a way to squeeze every last drop out of the injury-ravaged squad, even when playing players in unorthodox positions (Marcus Harness up front anyone?) The former Rams midfielder has given the side a very solid, organised structure, ironically in Paul Warne’s favoured 3-5-2, and has managed get everyone chipping in with goals and assists.

Has your style of play changed much?

I think it has become more structured and crucially more efficient. This Derby side remain a better team without the ball, winning games with little over 30 per cent possession, but they now look comfortable, and pose a threat on the counter, where the danger began to fade towards the end of Warne’s tenure.

You've been much better at home than away, why do you believe this is?

Under Warne it was related to tactical approach, but with Eustace, the benefit has been the clichéd twelfth man, particularly in long spells of backs-to-the-wall defending. As mentioned earlier, the belief is back, Pride Park is galvanised, and as much as that is true on the road too, it’s obviously not as impactful.

What did you make of the Boxing Day game between us earlier in the season?

Other than Valencia, Derby were the big beneficiaries of Carlos Corberán’s quick departure. Kane Wilson was a threat down the right, and the midfield balance looked good, but especially given the winless run that we endured afterwards, it is clear that you were hit by the loss of your manager.

Did it take you too long to dismiss Paul Warne or did the club get the timing right?

If Eustace was available sooner, definitely. He should have been given the final couple of weeks of the transfer window after Warne was booed off following the home defeat to Watford – a surefire sign a manager’s position is becoming untenable.

If not, so far, Eustace has been worth the wait regardless, thought the announcement coming on a Friday afternoon was bizarre. I could have done without it being during a lecture, sorry Chris!

Any injuries or suspensions ahead of the game?

As has been the case since Eustace arrived, the injury list is as long as my arm. At the time of writing, prior to the Good Friday fixtures, there are no suspensions to report, but the injury list reads (deep breath): Ben Osborn, Corey Blackett-Taylor, Curtis Nelson, Dajuane Brown, David Ozoh, Kemar Roofe, Ryan Nyambe and Lars-Jørgen Salvesen. Callum Elder remains a doubt too.

Who is your most important player?

It has to be the man who John Eustace has made his captain: Ebou Adams. As well as his remarkable numbers for tackles and interceptions, the number 32 has added attacking threat to his game recently. As Eustace told me last month: “We’re looking for solutions of how to score more goals”, and “he’s got that pace and power to get us up the pitch”.

Expect to see marauding runs out to the right flank, where Adams will link up with tricky wing back Kane Wilson.

What is your weak point?

Earlier in the season I pin-pointed the lack of an out-and-out nine. Due to Lars-Jørgen Salvesen’s injury, that hasn’t been solved, but it has been worked around, with the 11 goals scored in the last seven games as many as in the prior 15 league games.

Right now, it seems to simply be lapses in concentration. As much as we have defended valiantly of late, split-seconds have proven costly at Swansea and Portsmouth.

What do you predict your formation and starting XI to be on Monday?

I think Derby will line up in a 3-5-2: Zetterström (GK); Langås, Phillips, Clarke; Wilson, Adams (C), Thompson, Armstrong, Forsyth; Yates, Harness.

If Callum Elder is fit, expect him to operate at left wing back, with Craig Forsyth on the left of the back three and Sondre Langås most likely missing out.

What are your thoughts on Albion at present?

A good side who were always going to take a little time to adapt post-Corberán. To state the bleeding obvious, I’ve been massively impressed by Tom Fellows ‘creative numbers, and Josh Maja has been a huge miss. Tony Mowbray is a good gaffer, who will surely do well in time. The play-offs hang in the balance at present though.

What is your score prediction for Monday?

Expect Albion to have the ball and dominate the game, and Derby to look to break through Wilson and Adams. You’ll have the better of it, but we might just nick something: 1-1?

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Written by:

Chris Hall

@CJHall83

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