Exclusive: Don Goodman reveals what will be "really pivotal" for Derby County & John Eustace to avoid relegation | OneFootball

Don Goodman has spoken exclusively to Football League World after the Rams' 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

Don Goodman has backed Derby County to stay in the Championship ahead of their final two games of the season, after they ran out 3–1 winners away to West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

The Easter weekend was one of differing emotions for the Rams, as they were beaten by fellow relegation-battlers Luton Town at Pride Park on Good Friday, losing the match 1-0.

However, they were superb at The Hawthorns, as Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates handed John Eustace's side a 2-0 lead heading into half-time. Adam Armstrong pulled one back for the hosts just after the break, but Nathaniel Mendez-Laing wrapped up all three points for the East Midlands outfit in impressive fashion in the final minutes of the clash.

Derby remain level on points with the Hatters, but they have a significantly better goal difference than Matt Bloomfield's team and the battle for survival in the Championship looks as though it is heading to the final day.

Goodman weighs in on Derby's survival chances

The arrival of Eustace in February coincided with a huge upturn in form for the Rams, and what had once looked like an impossible task to keep the team in the division, has soon become a very realistic target.

However, the job is not done yet, and they may still need to take six points from their last two matches to ensure their safety.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Don Goodman has backed Derby to stay in the Championship after beating the Baggies.

He told FLW: "Derby needed that win. They did really well to beat West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns because they hadn't won in the previous four games, they picked up just two points, and that put them under pressure a little bit.

"So the win was absolutely enormous. They've got a huge game at the weekend, away to Hull City and their season could ultimately come down to that game. They need to avoid defeat and then beat Stoke at home on the final day."

Goodman continued: "That will get them to 50 points which, given that they have the joint best goal difference of those teams down the bottom, should do it. But it's the flick of a coin, isn't it really?

"They're all fighting for the same thing, and that's survival. Hull are certainly going to provide an acid test, so I do think that the Hull game could prove really pivotal here for Derby and John Eustace."

Derby could all but secure survival on Saturday

The Rams' run-in is arguably the easiest compared to their rivals in terms of the league positions of their upcoming opponents. However, this also makes these games more difficult, as both Hull and Stoke City are both scrapping to stay in the division themselves.

However, if Derby are able to secure just their fourth away win of the season on Saturday and Luton are beaten by Coventry City, then the Rams will have effectively secured their second tier status.

Their goal difference is much better than the Hatters', and this situation would take a huge amount of pressure off their final day clash against the Potters at Pride Park - who could also be safe dependent on the results of those below them.

Nevertheless, it cannot be understated just how well Eustace has done in his short time in DE24, and Derby are in a much better place since he took on the challenge of keeping the Rams in the Championship.