Derby County's current run of three consecutive defeats is largely due to problems at the back. The team has failed to name an unchanged defensive quartet for any two league matches in a row since late August, and this inconsistency is damaging their prospects.
Since the campaign started, head coach John Eustace has deployed eight distinct players in his defense. While Max Johnston, Joe Ward, Ryan Nyambe, Dion Sanderson, Sondre Langas, Eiran Cashin, Charlie Taylor, and Craig Forsyth have all played, finding a reliable unit has proven difficult.
These defensive issues were clear during a recent home loss to Birmingham City. For the first goal conceded, Charlie Taylor failed to track Carlos Vicente's movement, allowing him a free header. The decisive second goal came when Sondre Langas was distracted by a tussle involving Christoph Klarer and the goalkeeper, which left Paik Seung-Ho alone to nod in.
Observers noted both goals were avoidable, worsening the impact of injuries to important defenders. Key players Derry Murkin and last season's best performer Matt Clarke are currently unavailable, and the team is missing them. When healthy, both would be certain starters. More information on the squad's fitness situation is available on our injuries page.
The squad must now adapt with the players they have. Derby's position in the league is low, having earned only a handful of points from their opening matches while letting in many goals. Their recent record shows several losses and a single victory against Portsmouth. The league table illustrates the difficulty of their situation, and statistical data indicates they are conceding goals at a frequent rate this term.
Bobby Clark, who leads the team's scoring charts, got Derby's only goal in the Birmingham match. Attention now turns to stopping this poor form in their upcoming match away to Burnley.
Background and full detail: bbc.com
