John Eustace shows he already gets it as classy Derby County gesture revealed in relegation fight

When John Eustace parachuted in to answer Derby County's SOS, everything happened at such breakneck speed that he hardly had time to catch his breath.

But while the Championship schedule has been unrelenting, Derby's new head coach has been busy trying to foster the indomitable spirit that is essential in a relegation fight.

Eustace, his backroom team, along with the club staff and the players, went for a meal at Morley Hayes last week, in what was a rare opportunity to bring everybody together amid the chaos of the fixture list.

Unity will be Derby's greatest strength for the last 12 games of the season at a time when the pundits and the bookies have already read the last rites on their Championship status.

Sitting four points adrift of safety is not an insurmountable position to be in and football is littered with tales throughout history of teams hitting form at exactly the right time.

Derby fans will be praying that they are the ones who can light the touchpaper, but as Eustace said, whatever happens, togetherness will be crucial.

"We went out with the staff last week and we took the players and the staff from the training ground out for a meal," he said.

"It's just showing that commitment is there from everyone. It is not just about the players. We've spoken about the staff playing a big part in helping us through it as well.

"As I say, it's the Derby family. That's the staff, the players and the fans. Everyone is in it together.

"Whatever happens through thick and thin we have to stick together. It's key because if there are splits in the group and people are negative then it is never going to work.

"Everyone has to be on board and everybody has to be heading in the right direction. From the two weeks I have been here, I have certainly seen that.

"The staff have been amazing, the players have been very good and the fans were right behind us which is what I expect."

For a team that has not won in its last 11 league games, Derby are going to need to hit promotion form and quickly.

They will need some favours along the way, but you sense securing that first victory - and it really does not matter how it is achieved - could well be the catalyst.

"You could feel that last Saturday (against Millwall)," Eustace added. "Even when we went close, hit the bar and got into really good areas, the fans could not wait to jump on that.

"We have to create more opportunities and we have to get that excitement back for the fans to really get behind us.

"As I've said, they are going to have the role of being the 12th man and the players and the way they have been working has been exceptional.

"They are desperate to do well for this football club. Everyone is pulling in the right direction and I think when we get that first win, I do think it could create something special until the end of the season."

Will Derby beat the drop? Have your say HERE.

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