“John Eustace Sends a Message to Derby Players That No One Expected After the Win”

“John Eustace Sends a Message to Derby Players That No One Expected After the Win”

John Eustace Hails “Cracking Win” as Derby County Beat QPR

Derby County head coach John Eustace praised his side for a “cracking win” after the Rams earned back-to-back victories for the first time this season with a 1-0 triumph over QPR at Pride Park.

Carlton Morris grabbed his fifth goal of the campaign to seal the win, tapping home from close range after good work in the buildup.

Derby were largely in control throughout the match and came close to doubling their lead when Max Johnston rattled the crossbar with a superb free-kick.

Ben Brereton Diaz also struck the post as the hosts pushed for a second goal that would have put the result beyond doubt.

QPR offered little attacking threat, with Richard Kone missing their best opportunity by heading over the bar while unmarked. Derby goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström enjoyed a quiet afternoon, rarely called into action across the 90 minutes.

Reflecting on the result, Eustace said:

“I thought it was a cracking win. We were up against a really good team, and I’m very proud of the group’s effort, especially as it was our third game in a week.

We started really well and fully deserved our goal. In the second half, we had to dig in because they brought on some excellent attacking players.

I was disappointed we couldn’t make more of our counter-attacks, but defensively we were excellent. The back five and midfield four worked really hard, and Jacob had very little to do.
We just need to be a bit sharper in transition, and that’s something we’ll keep working on.”

The win lifted Derby to 17th in the Championship table and marked a second consecutive clean sheet. After a lacklustre defeat to Oxford the previous weekend, Eustace was pleased with his team’s response.

“The group’s character and attitude are fantastic — they’re really together and it feels like a family in that dressing room,” he said.

“It also shows why the Championship is such a tough league. You play Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday, and you can’t get carried away with the highs or the lows.

You’re going to have off days, but as long as you keep believing in the process — which these players are doing — that’s the most important thing.”