John Eustace makes 'huge' Derby County final day admission as he issues Pride Park plea

Derby County still have “a huge job to do” to clinch Championship survival, says boss John Eustace.

The Rams are one point above the relegation zone ahead of facing Stoke City at Pride Park in the last match of the season on Saturday (12:30pm).

Back-to-back wins over West Brom and Hull City in their last two matches have given their hopes of staying in the Championship a major boost, but Eustace insists everyone inside the club is keeping a level head as they prepare for a final day showdown with the Potters.

Derby are one point and one place behind Stoke, in 19th, and they are level on points with both Preston (20th) and Luton Town (21st), while they are one point above Hull, who are currently in the drop zone, in 22nd place.

“We've got a huge job to do,” said Eustace after victory over Hull. “There's no way anyone's getting carried away with anything.

“This is the Championship. It's relentless. All we focus on is ourselves, which we've done since we've come into the football club.

“Next week's a huge game that we're looking forward to.”

“The players have been amazing since day one,” he added.

“I know we had a couple of really difficult results in that first couple of weeks, but I could see the effort on the training ground was there.

“The players want to learn. They want to play in a way that's going to get results. Their efforts have been magnificent up to now.

“We've got a really big week now with training on that training pitch to get ready to play Stoke, who are an exceptional team as well.

“It's going to be a tough challenge, but I know the lads will be prepared properly and we'll give it our best.”

Eustace has also made it clear Derby fans have a part to play on the final day.

“Next week at Pride Park, it's going to be packed with 32,000 fans and we need it rocking, even when we have some difficult periods,” he said.

“We need you guys to really back this group of players who are fighting and scrapping for you and the football club.”

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