John Eustace has fixed one big Derby County problem - it spells bad news for Hull City | OneFootball

The Rams' away form has turned around in recent weeks, and their new head coach has played a massive part in that.

Derby County are potentially just one more victory away from all but securing their safety in the Championship after beating West Bromwich Albion 3-1 at The Hawthorns on Monday.

The last two months have been excellent for the Rams, with John Eustace finally getting the results that his team have deserved after three successive losses in his first three matches in charge since leaving Blackburn Rovers in February.

The East Midlands outfit have won five of their last nine matches in the second tier, losing only two of those and their hopes of staying in the division for another year remain in their hands after they were at one point cut adrift at the bottom of the table.

However, they face a tough test in Hull City on Saturday afternoon as Derby look to increase their gap to the relegation zone to three points with a victory. They have a significantly better goal difference than Luton Town, and if the Hatters are beaten by Coventry City, it could almost all be over by 5:30pm.

Yet, the Rams will have to do something that they have not done yet this season if they are to achieve their goal.

John Eustace has helped salvage Derby County's away record

2024/25 has been dismal for the Championship's 21st place team for the most part, but the decision to change their head coach has paid off already and they look like a side reborn under Eustace.

While Derby have historically been a strong side at home, it has been their away form that has cost them for the most part this season. Under Paul Warne, they picked up just one win on the road from 15 matches and a lot was left to be desired from performances.

The Rams were set up to not be beaten heavily on the road, and this would have been extremely frustrating for supporters who travelled plenty of miles to watch their team. However, they are showing confidence away from home now.

Eustace picked up his first away win against Plymouth Argyle in March, with his side scoring in the 88th minute to win 3-2 after the Pilgrims came from two goals down to level the game. It was a true showing of the character that the 45-year-old has instilled in his players and they have carried that forward.

Derby's 3-1 win over West Brom on Easter Monday was arguably their best performance of the season, and they showed quality going forward and defensively to take all three points from a side that have been in the fight for the play-offs.

Hull City will be wary of Derby County's new-found confidence on the road

The Rams make the trip to Hull for their final away game of the season at the weekend, with the Tigers looking for survival themselves.

While their own form at home has picked up recently, over the course of the campaign, they have the worst record on their own patch in the division and Derby will look to capitalise on that from the off.

Three points on Saturday will be huge for the Rams, with Luton locked on 46 points with them, and they know that they must keep their heads above the parapet ahead of the final day against Stoke City at Pride Park.

The fight for survival will ultimately stretch into May, but Derby can make themselves a lot comfier by having a points advantage heading into their clash with the Potters, and to do that, they have to beat Hull at the MKM Stadium, and win back-to-back away games for the very first time this season.