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RECENT FORM



PNE 11 DERBY 6

Bit on an in and out season for the Rams, did go on a decent run a couple of months ago, loss of Morris ceucial, but can we do a rare double on them

https://www.dcfc.co.uk/

MANAGER

John Mark Eustace (born 3 November 1979) is an English professional football coach and former player who is head coach of EFL Championship club Derby County.

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Derby County Head Coach John Eustace says his side are ready for a stern test when they return to Sky Bet Championship action with a trip to Deepdale on Saturday (3pm kick-off).



The Rams will face Preston North End, who sit fourth in the second-tier rankings after 26 matches.

Eustace hailed the progress of Academy midfielder Owen Eames and the introduction of January signing Oscar Fraulo as both made their first team debuts for Derby in Sunday’s Emirates FA Cup clash against Premier League Leeds United.

Fraulo signed up with the Rams from German Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach and played out the first half at Pride Park last weekend, while Eames entered play in the 73rd minute.

Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston side await the Rams, having registered 11 wins and ten draws so far this term, and they will be looking to bounce back after also bowing out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 loss against League One side Wigan Athletic last Friday.

Derby boss Eustace sat down with RamsTV toreflect following the recent break from league action and looked ahead to the Deepdale meeting with Preston.



On the feeling in camp following Sunday’s FA Cup exit
We've had a couple of really good days on the grass, coming off the back of a really tough Christmas period with lots of games and lots of emotions.

It finished off with a big FA Cup game where we just couldn't get over the line, and that was a shame. But there were many positives to take out of that match (against Leeds), and the lads are in a really good place at the moment.



On giving Fraulo and Eames debuts in the FA Cup
It's really important that when we bring new people into the group, players and academy players coming up, that they feel at home and feel welcomed.

Giving them first-team minutes in front of 25,000 at Pride Park certainly helped (their development), and they've both settled in really well.

You look at Eames' rise from the academy, and there has been such hard work put in from all the coaches through the years. I'll only give debuts to players that I think are good enough and deserve it.



Owen has deserved that debut. He's been on the bench previously in the league. We couldn't get him on, unfortunately, but he's worked ever so hard.

Now all the hard work starts properly. He's part of the group. We have to think about what we're going to do with him over the next couple of months. Is a loan best for him, or is it to have more time with the first team?

That's something we're in discussions about. He's got a huge future, and he’s an exciting talent. The club have done so well in getting him to this point, and now we've got to do the right thing for him.



On Nelson departing for MK Dons
Curtis was injured when I came to the football club, unfortunately. But he's worked his socks off to get to a really good point. His performance when he came on against Birmingham City was excellent, and it just typified the kind of character and man he is, so I'm glad he could play a part in that game.

We've got competition from places at the back - it's important at his age that he goes out and plays games. He'll certainly do that at MK, and we wish him all the best.



On Saturday’s opponents, Preston North End
They are a very experienced team. And one that has been together a long time over the last two, three, four years, and they've added good quality to that group. They've certainly built up in the right way.

They have a great manager in Paul Heckingbottom. We know it's going to be a difficult game, but it's a good opportunity to go against one of the best teams in the league at the moment and see where we're at.

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North End manager Paul Heckingbottom has welcomed his side’s eight-day break between matches ahead of this weekend’s clash with Derby County.

PNE have been victorious in their first two league outings of 2026 but were defeated by Wigan Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup last time out.

The Lilywhites’ boss has opened up on how useful this extended preparation has been before taking on The Rams.

“We had the weekend off, which was good physically,” stated the boss. We had one or two players needing a bit of treatment, catching up on things that we couldn't over the busy Christmas period, which is good.

“I think that little lull in games has been really important for us, so hopefully we're all in a better place now.

“We had the three away games, three overnight stays and six days in total on the coach; it's not ideal when you've got so many games in a short space of time.”

Although North End exited the FA Cup last time out, Heckingbottom is insistent that focus must turn straight back to the Championship.

While stating that it was disappointing to exit the competition, he affirmed that PNE must make the most of the opportunity to concentrate on the league.

“I don't mind cup competitions,” admitted the boss.

“Because I think they're a welcome break from a league schedule, from that same sort of preparation, the same sort of teams that we're constantly talking about.

“It’s disappointing to be out, but the plus is the game schedule. The focus is just on the league, so we've just got to make sure that we're making the most of that.”


Derby County have been one of the Championship’s more unpredictable teams this season, enjoying both extremely good runs of form and patchy stretches without too much success.

Heckingbottom is expecting a physical contest from John Eustace’s side, who have won just once in their last six games in all competitions.

“I think it's going to be a tough one; they've been difficult to play against. They've got dangerous players, goal threats, but they're also happy to grind games out as well and not afraid to win games without the ball, and sit in, defend the box well and be a real threat on the counter, so I think we're going to have to be really patient.

“If we have to be really patient in home games between now and the end of the season, then we're going to have to be and that's everyone, people on the pitch, off the pitch, fans in the stands, me on the side, no one's going to make it easy for us.

“People are going to come with game plans to try and give themselves the best chance of winning and one of those is to frustrate us and maybe take the pace and how we want to play away.

“It's something you've got to get used to because we're a team that's at the higher end of the league now and that has been the approach of a lot of teams at our place.”

[themaclad]

Team News​
The manager has confirmed that Robbie Brady is edging closer to a return but won’t be back in time to face Derby County.

Andrija Vukčević also remains out of action after recovering from a recurrence of a hamstring issue.
The Visitors​
After recruiting a number of new players in the summer of 2025, Derby County have struggled to find consistency so far this term.

The Rams have put together some decent runs of form, most notably winning five consecutive matches earlier in the season but have struggled to maintain that level of performance for the majority of the campaign.

John Eustace’s side have picked up points in 17 of their 26 Championship outings thus far, so they will be arriving at Deepdale with the intention of frustrating the home side and adding to their tally.
Match Officials​
Referee: Farai Hallam
Assistant Referees: Alistair Nelson and Bhupinder Singh Gill
Fourth Official: Dean Whitestone

Farai Hallam will take charge of Saturday’s match.

Hallam last officiated North End in their 3-2 victory over Sheffield United earlier this term, a contest which marked the second time he had refereed a PNE game.

So far this season, he has shown 49 yellow cards in 14 matches.

Romours of Iversen being out for 4 to 8 weeks

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Attendance: 17,641 (3,616 Derby fans)

Referee: Farai Hallam

Derby came sw and conquered, no surprise as they looked the more likely of the two sides to win it, also their record at the home of quality football is pretty impressive, apart from a victory over them in 2021 when the ground was empty due to the Wuhan Lab leak, we have not beaten the Rams in front of spectators at home since 2008.
The pitch was difficult but they used the conditions better than us.
As rumoured no Iversen, so Walton made his first league apparearence, to be fair him did well but not overly sure, he's the greatest with back passes.
Made an early save from Langas as Derby raced out of the traps, another Langas header went close, but Walton was not overly troubled in the first half, could say the same at the other end where Dobbin had acouple of efforts which didn't require saving. Devine was giving them probems running from deep, but nno end product from those in front of him.
Blitzed by the Rams at the start of the second period, Ageymang missed a siitter, Walton did well to save a Brewster chip and from the second phase of the same play, Offiah sliced his clearence, it missed the post., because most of us thought he had scored an own goal
Devine twice went close, great tackle by Clarke on Osmajic, possiibly should have had a penalty when Dobbin brought down by Clarke but to be fair to the offical, he annoyed both sides with his decisions.
Diaz denied by Walton, but from that we never really cleared the ball cross from the right, Ageymang jumped highest, headed bal down into ground and in and that was that. Just an end of game hand bag session between the benches and that was that.
Hull on Tuesday then the Deepdale mud flats will get a well earned 18 days break.

HECK

Paul Heckingbottom was left with mixed feelings following Preston North End’s 1-0 defeat against Derby County.

A cagey affair from minute one, Patrick Agyemang’s header eight minutes from time made the difference on a day when opportunities were hard to come by.

John Eustace’s side limited North End throughout, something that Heckingbottom touched upon following the contest.

North End’s best chances of the game came through Alfie Devine and Lewis Dobbin, who were both eager to drive at the Derby defence and create.

The latter beat Matt Clarke just outside of the Rams’ penalty area, before he appeared to be brought down by the defender. Hecky reflected on this flashpoint in the game before looking ahead to Tuesday night’s Hull City welcome.

“100% foul,” stated Hecky. “Our form in general has been very good, a very good start to the year with a couple of wins in the league. Obviously, the way the schedule is at the minute, it's another opportunity to bounce back on Tuesday.

“Another tough game (Hull City). All the games in this league are really finely balanced. Margins are fine and that's why we have to get most things right.”

Daniel Iversen was absent from the matchday squad due to injury, which presented Jack Walton with the opportunity to start.

Despite losing the contest, PNE’s No.12 impressed throughout with a number of impressive saves, with Hecky commenting on the situation post-match.

“Groin injury, so he's out,” revealed the boss, discussing Iversen.

“Jack's next in line, that's what we brought him in for, so it's a great opportunity for him and the squad is going to be needed, isn't it? The games are coming thick and fast still.

“We're three bodies light; we need to be good in the market. Everyone's working hard to make sure we get the most out of that as well.”

EUSTACE

"We were excellent from the first minute. We really took the game to a tough Preston team. Delighted with the effort the hard work that the boys put in for 95 minutes and we really deserved the three points.

"The pitch didn't help if you wanted to play a bit of football but tactically we were very good today and the way the boys fought today was top, top drawer and that is what Derby County is all about.

"Lewis Travis led by example. He was outstanding. He has had a really frustrating period and he is obviously not match fit but he controlled the game with and without the ball today.

"We have to make sure he gets through the next 19 games unhurt and gets fitter and fitter and he is going to be a massive plus for Derby in the future.

"Danny Batth took a really bad knock in training and after starting to do the warm up just couldn't get through. Joe Ward who came in was top drawer.