Derby County returned from Southampton empty handed but with plenty of credit for a battling display
Brian Dick Reach Football Correspondent
08:00, 12 Apr 2026
Derby County manager John Eustace thanks the fans after the final whistle of the Sky Bet Championship match at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton(Image: PA)
In the battle between two of the Championship’s form teams it was Southampton who marched on, over a brave Derby County.
They were given a scare though, the Rams led 1-0 at the break and were halfway towards a textbook away display.
Strong at the back, defending their box well and opportunistic in attack., it was vintage John Eustace. Until it wasn’t.
Southampton knocked and knocked on the door and their depth and quality eventually paid off. Carlton Morris’ opener was cancelled out by a piece of brilliance from Leo Scienza – and then Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed home a set-piece that infuriated John Eustace.
Here’s what stood out on a frustrating afternoon.
Max back
With Derry Murkin hamtrung after the win over Stoke, Eustace opted to hand Max Johnston his first start since the end of October.
It was very much in at the deep end, a first start in five months, on the ‘wrong’ side for a right-footer and up against Tom Fellows one of the best wingers in the Championship.
To make matters worse he had Bobby Clark playing out of position in front of him – and then nine minutes into the game Oscar Fraulo was handed the task of helping him out against Fellows and the experienced James Bree.
It was a big ask – and there were times when Johnston struggled to contain Fellows, the former West Brom man isn’t a flier but with his shuffling gait inevitably creates enough room for a cross.
Twenty-two-year-old Johnston just about kept his head above water – and might even have ended the first half with a goal after he was sent free by Carlton Morris.
In the end his decision to prod wide of the near post rather than go across goal or pull back for a team-mate was a poor one but overall the Scot acquitted himself well.
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If
Eustace was offered the chance to bemoan the Rams’ injuries in his post-match press conference – he declined, his no excuses culture compelled him to do so.
Let’s do it for him. In a week in which they lost Patrick Agyemang long term, Ben Brereton Diaz was unavailable for this game and Sammie Szmodics was only just coming back from a knock sustained with the Republic of Ireland, to lose Murkin and Clark against a side that was 16 games unbeaten put a tin hat on the season.
Eustace is right when he says everybody has injuries but it’s difficult not wonder how the season would have gone had Carlton Morris not gone down early on, or how it might finish had Agyemang remained fit.
The Agyemang/Morris partnership is mouthwatering, especially after the American’s rapid development, yet the fact remains they have played together only 17 times – and just a handful of starts.
To put it in perspective Agyemang has played more times with Ebou Adams who left in January, than he has with the Rams’ top scorer. What if?
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Striker light
What Agyemang’s injury does is exacerbate the situation in attack where, as things stand, the Rams go into the summer with some serious thinking to do.
We may not see the 25-year-old until 2027 and with – as things stand – Brereton Diaz, Clark and Sammie Szmodics to return to Southampton, Red Bull Salzburg and Ipswich respectively, there are plenty of holes to fill.
It might be that Ipswich want to move Szmodics on and that he wants to rekindle his relationship with Eustace, it might be that Brereton Diaz becomes available if the Saints go up – but these are questions that need answering.
A fit again Agyemang and Morris bears another look next season but the campaign could be half over by the time that becomes a possibility.
The Rams need to do their recruitment early and sensibly in the offseason because with the structure in defence and midfield largely sound, the final third is the missing part.
Classy gesture
Eustace was also reluctant to call time on the Rams’ playoff hopes but, even with Hull City losing they are now five points behind the top six with four games to play. It’s too much.
What’s important then is finding another ‘why’ and making sure a season of progress has the end it deserves. Eustace will do all he can to prevent that.
There are four games remaining, Oxford and Sheffield United at home and Norwich and QPR away, 12 points would see them draw level with the 75 Gary Rowett’s side put up, and exceed the 74 posted by Lampard’s. It is inconceivable they don’t improve on the tenth placed finish managed by Phillip Cocu in 2020.
Eustace was as irritated after this game as he has been all season – but he still made sure his players paid a proper tribute to the travelling fans.
The team went over to the 3,000 at the end but Eustace urged the players even further forward and said: “I wanted to get closer to the fans, that’s our family, the support was magnificent today.
“There’s no divide between anyone, I’ve come here to build over the next two or three seasons. You can really feel the togetherness through the team, that connection’s there with everyone, so it’s important that they feel that with us today.”
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