John Eustace fixes major Derby County issue but a new problem has emerged | OneFootball

Derby County have won back-to-back away games in the Championship. Their form on the road is outstanding, but they can't recreate it at Pride Park.

Derby County are showing their strength once again in the Championship, with back-to-back away victories over the last few days taking them towards the top six.

While the Rams have not cracked the play-off places yet this season, six points in their last two games has seen them close the gap to those above, with the likes of Preston North End faltering in tandem.

John Eustace has made his mark on the club over the course of the last 11 months and with his second transfer window in charge of the East Midlands outfit in its final weeks, the squad at Pride Park is looking a lot healthier than it did this time last year.

There is excellent team morale at Derby and those on the pitch have gelled excellently, allowing the club to become one of the very best in the division in one aspect. Yet, there is a new problem that Eustace must fix quickly in DE24.

Derby County's away form this season has been sensational

The Rams' 2-1 victory over Charlton Athletic on Tuesday evening was near-perfect, with Matt Clarke's red card perhaps the only blight on a terrific win at The Valley, with Bobby Clark's classy finish proving enough for all three points.

It came just days after Patrick Agyemang's terrific header away at Preston, a goal that ensured the points returned to the East Midlands with Derby in what was arguably their best performance of the campaign.

In fact, it has been their form on the road that has given the Rams a more than respectable haul of 41 points from 28 games, with 24 of those coming in games away from Pride Park. League leaders Coventry City do not have an away record as strong as Eustace's side, while promotion-chasing Hull City have also picked up 24 points.

Last season, Derby had won just once on their travels before Eustace arrived, and then proceeded to win three of their last seven to avoid relegation to League One. They have already picked up six more points this season in away games than they did last season, and they still have nine more matches to go.

Only four sides have won out against the Rams when they've come to their home, and supporters will be extremely keen for this form to continue. Fans have seen how pivotal away form can be, with the club record 13 wins that they picked up in 2023/24 helping them to promotion to the Championship under Paul Warne.

Derby County must sort out their form at Pride Park

While there is no denying how classy Eustace's side have been on the road, there are questions to be asked as to why Derby cannot repeat their winning ways at Pride Park.

In the past, the Rams have been incredibly strong at home, and it has been somewhat of a safe haven. Yet, this season, only four teams have suffered defeat at the hands of the East Midlands outfit on their own patch.

Victories over Hull, Middlesbrough, QPR and Norwich City have paved over the cracks, with Derby drawing five of their other 10 league games at Pride Park, while they have also suffered five defeats - including against Wrexham in their most recent home league clash.

Eustace would possibly admit that he is a manager who prefers playing his football after soaking up the pressure and catching sides on the break, but this tactic has not worked so far this season at home and he may have to change his plan ahead of West Bromwich Albion's visit on Friday evening.

Derby have an excellent record over the Baggies, and they have proven to be a bogey team for Albion over the years. With Eric Ramsay struggling since taking charge of West Brom, perhaps this is the opportunity for the Rams to turn their home form around.