"Warning signs" - Pundit issues worried claim on Derby County as John Eustace era begins | OneFootball

John Eustace has been called the right man for the job even if Derby County get relegated.

Not The Top 20's George Elek believes John Eustace is a "very good appointment" for Derby County but believes that "right now it seems more likely than ever that they will get relegated".

The Rams have had a woeful start to 2025 and made the decision in early February to sack Paul Warne after a run of seven straight defeats saw them slip from a position of relative safety to 22nd in the league table.

Since Warne's departure, they've managed to pick up just two points from three games. However, Eustace quickly felt the weight of the task ahead, with an Ilias Chair-inspired performance from Queens Park Rangers condemning his side to a heavy 4-0 defeat in his first game in charge.

The games are coming thick and fast for the Rams, and the new head coach, who left Blackburn Rovers to return to Pride Park, will be under intense pressure to guide them to safety in the final 13 matches of the season.

Derby County lauded for John Eustace appointment

Despite a heavy defeat in his opening game, Not The Top 20's Elek still believes it is a strong appointment from County and that, given time, Eustace can take the Rams forward.

"I think it is a very good appointment from Derby," said Elek.

"It is the kind of appointment that works very well. If Eustace does take them down, he will be the perfect kind of manager to take them back up again.

"If you look at the style of play that gets teams promoted out of League One, Eustace fits it very well. He will build a good, strong, resolute side who have no issue in terms of creating chances but will be built on a very solid defence. If you look at Paul Warne, for example, yes, the style of play is a bit more attritional, and he may take the physicality side to a whole different degree, but when you are a big side looking to bounce back to the Championship, looking at a pragmatist rather than an ideologist is the best way to go about it."

He added: "I think he should also improve them immediately in terms of their defensive work. But, I can't shake the feeling that their performances since Warne left have flashed the warning signs. They were poor against Oxford in the 0-0 draw and they were really poor here (QPR defeat), especially from an attacking perspective. I don't think we can hold anything against Eustace. He and his managerial methods had nothing to do with that poor performance, and if we see an improvement, it will come in time.

"Despite, in my mind, Warne for Eustace being an upgrade, right now it seems more likely than ever that they will get relegated – even with Eustace at the helm."

Derby County have 13 games to save their season

For much of the campaign, it appeared that Derby were going to finish the season in a comfortable midtable position, but now they're fighting for their Championship status.

Having just escaped the third tier, they will have no desire for an immediate return and will be well aware that, regardless of a club's size, escaping League One is never an easy feat.

Eustace has 13 games to try and make an impact on a season he has had little influence on so far, and it may already be too late, with many of the teams at the bottom starting to turn their form around.

In the coming weeks, they face tough fixtures against play-off hopefuls, but following that, they have a relatively kinder run-in which they will be desperate to capitalise on.

The new head coach will be hopeful of leading his club to safety and keeping them in the Championship next season, but if that fails, he may just be the right man to help secure an immediate return next year.