Derby County's defensive reshuffle continues to define their fight for Championship survival. A patched-up back line, hit by injuries and a suspension, has left the club winless and in 23rd place after 12 games.
Manager John Eustace has been forced into multiple changes. Sondre Langas, Dion Sanderson, Jack Robinson and Joe Ward have all featured in recent matches, with Ward, Langas, Sanderson and Ryan Hedges starting in a back four for the home draw with Wrexham. That same quartet then started the subsequent matches against Stoke City and Sheffield United. The instability was compounded when Langas was substituted after just 12 minutes in the defeat at Queens Park Rangers due to injury, replaced by Ryan Nyambe.
Key returns and ongoing absences
Jacob Widell Zetterstrom's return in goal was a rare positive, his performance a key reason Derby secured a 1-1 draw at Sheffield United last Friday. The point was earned despite playing the final stages with ten men after Dion Sanderson received a red card. That result leaves Derby with a recent form of DLLDD and only seven points on the board, four points from safety.
Long-term absentees continue to weaken the squad. Matt Clarke remains sidelined and has not returned from his injury. First-choice left-back Derry Murkin is also still out, alongside Eiran Cashin, Sondre Langas, Charlie Taylor and Craig Forsyth. To address the shortages, the club signed Jack Robinson on a short-term deal after the QPR match.
Season struggles persist
Derby have recorded just one win all season, with three draws and two losses in their last five outings. Their defensive record shows the scale of the challenge, having conceded 21 goals while scoring only 10. This leaves them with a goal difference of minus eleven, a figure that shows the frailty at the back. They sit a daunting 18 points behind league leaders Middlesbrough.
The 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane saw Bobby Clark open the scoring for Derby in the 37th minute, only for Patrick Bamford to equalise for Sheffield United late on. The previous game, a 1-0 home loss to Stoke City, was decided by a Luke Graham goal early in the second half.
With the squad stretched, the expected return of several injured players towards Christmas is seen as vital for any improvement in results. For now, the focus shifts to a key away match against Millwall this Saturday. Millwall currently sit 13th in the standings, and the fixture represents another key opportunity for Derby to try and break their winless streak. The game at The Den kicks off on 31 October.
Background and full detail: bbc.co.uk
