Derby continue win streak to escape drop zone

Craig Forsyth wheeled away in celebration after drilling the ball through a crowded box and under David Cornell. Following a quiet first half, the long-serving defender had got Pride Park rocking; his goal lifting The Rams outside the Championship’s bottom three for the first time in 68 days.

Mobbed by his teammates in wild celebration, he put his hands out to encourage the South Stand to further turn up the volume. After all, if anyone can command the flock of fans behind the goal, it should be Forsyth. The man with 12 years of service through administration and two ACL injuries after a second goal from left centre back in four games.

Derby have won all of these under the management of his former teammate John Eustace, whose impact has been nothing short of transformative despite a difficult first three games in charge.

Eustace’s sole change to the side beat Plymouth Argyle two-and-a-half weeks ago saw Ryan Nyambe replace Kane Wilson at right wing back in a 3-5-2. But this would be reversed just four minutes in, when the Namibian International went off with a hamstring injury moments after a poor back-pass which saw Milutin Osmajić in on goal.

Despite this, the first half lacked the high-octane start that the same line-up had produced in the south-west and was instead low-key. Which, let’s face it, is the diplomatic way a reporter might describe a half the average fan calls a bit dull.

Granted, there was another stoppage moments later when Callum Elder went down requiring treatment, but there was a lack of goalmouth action throughout the first 45 with just six shots – only one of which was on target.

While Preston dominated possession with 65 per cent, much of this was in their own half. The best chance of slim pickings fell the way of the hosts, Wilson picking out Marcus Harness, from the right, who could not apply the finish at the near post.

A vitalising leader, instilling a “fighters not victims” mentality, whatever Eustace said at half-time removed any post-international break rustiness. Suddenly The Rams were first to everything, 50-50s, second balls, the lot. And less than three minutes into the second half had the breakthrough they craved.

Flying wing back Wilson combined well with captain Ebou Adams down the right to win a corner, the relentless midfielder thriving in a more advanced role once more.  Elder delivered the ball to the back post, where Nat Phillips nodded the ball down to Forsyth, who created space in a packed box and found the bottom-right corner on the turn.

Jerry Yates had a reward for his recent industrious performances four minutes later. A progressive pass from Everton youngster Harrison Armstrong feeding Elder down the left, whose dangerous cross was again headed down by Phillips. The Liverpool loanee found Yates, who looped a shot over Cornell from five yards out to assert Derby’s authority on the game.

From this point on, Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston looked to be down and out, though one bright spot was Aston Villa loanee Kaine Kesler-Hayden, who completed the most dribbles and drew the most fouls of any player on the night, pinning the Derby defence back with his direct runs from out wide.

And arguably the visitors should have been given a lifeline in the form of a spot-kick with three minutes to play. But Phillips escaped a blemish on his stellar performance, with two assists from centre back, as he was not penalised for his challenge on former Rams academy player Emil Riis.

Analysis: A remarkable turnaround

While John Eustace may insist that his side climbing to 20th in the table “makes no difference” to their survival bid, it is undeniably significant to fans, and represents the positive momentum Derby have built over the past month.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for a side who were seven points from safety four weeks ago – appearing to many to be down and out. But Eustace is managing to squeeze every drop out of a rather thin squad by instilling a well-organised, energetic approach.

By winning their last four games, Derby are on their longest winning run in the second tier for five years and have won more games than they did in their previous 24. And the nine goals scored in the past four games is more than they scored in their previous 15 games.

The football on display is effective and necessary for the current moment, and though not the tiki taka of prime Barcelona, is producing goals. More significantly than anything else, Eustace has made Derby fans believe again, instilling hope that in just over a month’s time The Rams will have secured another Championship campaign to build on these promising foundations.

Derby (3-5-2): Zetterström (GK); Phillips, Clarke, Forsyth; Nyambe (Wilson 4’), Adams (C), Thompson (Jackson 70’), Armstrong, Elder; Yates, Harness (Goudmijn 90+2’).

Substitutes not used: Vickers (GK), Langås, Barkhuizen, Mendez-Laing, Hendrick, Pieters.

Preston (3-5-2): Cornell (GK); Porteous, Lindsay, Gibson (Evans 74’); Kesler-Hayden, Ledson (C), Thórdarson (Whiteman 58’), Frøkjaer-Jensen, Meghoma (Brady 58’); Keane (Riis 58’), Osmajic.

Substitutes not used: Stowell (GK), Hughes, Storey, Carroll, Mawene.