Amid the din of another Champions League week heavy on noise but light on consequence, it would have been easy to let a Championship fixture in south Wales slip under the radar.
Without key players and still wounded by throwing away a two-goal lead at home to Watford three days earlier, Derby travelled to Swansea, who were working under new manager Vitor Matos for the first time.
Not only did Rams boss John Eustace have to reinvigorate his team, he needed to rethink his plans entirely against a coach he might have known little about. He was also without injured top scorer Carlton Morris, who is facing a lengthy absence.
Did it derail them? Not a bit. Derby duly won 2-1, their sixth victory in seven matches. Make it seven out of eight at Middlesbrough on Saturday and there is every chance Eustace’s side will end the weekend in the play-off places.
It was a different story six weeks ago. Derby had just been beaten 1-0 at Oxford United and were 21st in the Championship, fans’ summer optimism replaced by growing concern. It was the club’s fourth defeat in their opening 10 games and they were a single point above the relegation zone, having won only once.
Just as Derby are not giddy now, they did not panic then. Here Daily Mail Sport looks at the turnaround and examines what might come next for one of the grand old names of English football.
Without key players and still wounded by throwing away a two-goal lead at home to Watford three days earlier, Derby travelled to Swansea on Tuesday – and won 2-1
It’s six wins in seven games for John Eustace’s side and they are closing in on the Championship play-off places
Playing the long game
Derby’s powerful end to last season, when they miraculously avoided relegation, had supporters dreaming, but those at the club knew there would be bumps along the road during the early part of this campaign.
Much of the club’s transfer business was concluded late in the window, meaning that new players inevitably needed time to settle.
Derby are following a careful recruitment process: to win promotion from League One, they targeted solid players at that level. Last season, they looked at top League One players and proven Championship performers.
This summer they raised their sights a little and went for higher-end Championship players, with 13 new signings in total. Having not spent pre-season at Derby, many of those were learning on the job in competitive games.
All summer, Eustace had wanted Lewis Travis to be his leader in the dressing room. Given Travis was at Blackburn, the club Eustace quit to move to Pride Park, negotiations were complicated and Travis did not sign until August 27.
The hierarchy were aware that the first part of the season could be difficult but were confident things would turn around as long as they stuck to the plan. The faith has been justified: since that Oxford defeat, only leaders Coventry City have collected as many points as Derby.
The Eustace Factor
Eustace sets bracing standards for players and staff alike. It is typical for the Derby boss to be at his desk at Moor Farm by 7am, and often he is still at the training base beyond 8pm.
When not on the training ground, he is forever watching matches and when Swansea appointed Matos, footage was sought immediately of Matos’ matches in charge of Portuguese club Maritimo.
Eustace sets bracing standards for players and staff alike. It is typical for the Derby boss to be at his desk at Moor Farm by 7am, and often he is still at the training base beyond 8pm
During his playing days at Derby from 2013-15, Eustace used his experience to help youngster Will Hughes. He has tried to recreate similar partnerships throughout the squad
Since Eustace took over from Paul Warne last February, every player has been presented with a document containing their personal development programme – featuring everything from individual training plans, to diets, to specific targets.
During his spell at Derby from 2013-15, Eustace – who was a midfielder – used his experience to help youngster Will Hughes, an FA Cup winner with Crystal Palace last season. He has tried to recreate similar partnerships throughout the squad.
With 10 goals this season, Morris has proved an outstanding addition, yet his work with £7.3million signing Patrick Agyemang has been just as important. Derby see huge potential in Agyemang, a USA international, but this is his first season in English football and Morris’ advice has been crucial.
Though Morris is now out for at least three months and that will prove a significant challenge, the early signs are encouraging, with his replacement Lars-Jorgen Salvesen scoring at Swansea.
The youth/experience dynamic applies in central defence, too. The highly regarded Sondre Langas has Danny Batth, Matt Clarke and Curtis Nelson to lean on. Even though Nelson has been injured, he has still been travelling to some away games – a sign of a united squad.
Right back Max Johnston, who is 21, has the experienced Callum Elder and Craig Forsyth on the opposite flank. On-loan midfielder Bobby Clark, 20, has the ideal colleague in Travis, who is eight years older.
Eustace is not wedded to a particular style or formation. Rather, he looks at the group he has and figures out what will work best. By nature, he is a back-four man – yet when that idea struggled to take off, Eustace moved to 3-4-2-1 for the 3-1 win at Sheffield United on November 1.
They have scarcely looked back. There is strong focus on set-pieces, too, with key Eustace lieutenant Matt Gardiner leading these sessions.
With 10 goals this season, top scorer Carlton Morris has proved an outstanding signing – but he will need cover now that he has suffered a long-term injury
Derby see huge potential in £7.3m signing Patrick Agyemang, a USA international, but this is his first season in English football and Morris’ advice has been crucial
Behind the scenes
Like most clubs outside the wealthy elite, Derby are a club who must trade – yet they do not lack ambition, with about £24m spent on transfers in the last 12 months.
Owner David Clowes is clear that proceeds from player sales can be reinvested and the Rams have had some success here, such as selling Eiran Cashin to Brighton for £10m and spending only £4m to replace him with Langas.
They do not intend to trade heavily in January though with Owen Beck’s loan spell from Liverpool cut short, they may need to strengthen at left back.
They may move for a striker with Morris injured, though these are hard to find, particularly in mid-season.
Goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom has interest from top-flight clubs around Europe and has only 18 months left on his contract, meaning a summer departure is possible. Next summer will be another important moment, with several players out of contract.
Derby are confident they will be ready. They work with analytics company Palantir (market cap: £302bn) to inform all decision-making and it plays a part in recruiting, alongside video and traditional ‘live’ scouting.
They have adopted the ‘B’ team model this season to give the best academy players a stepping stone to the senior side while providing a competitive environment for senior players returning from injury or to retain match sharpness.
Like most clubs outside the wealthy elite, Derby are a club who must trade – yet they do not lack ambition, with about £24m spent on transfers in the last 12 months
Derby work with analytics company Palantir to inform all decision-making and it plays a part in recruiting, alongside video and traditional ‘live’ scouting
The highly regarded Sondre Langas (pictured) has Danny Batth, Matt Clarke and Curtis Nelson to lean on
Performance coach Sean Rush focuses on the brightest academy players, as well as the younger players signed for the first team, like Agyemang, Johnston, Langas and Rhian Brewster.
Derby hope this plan will see others follow the path of academy product Owen Eames, a 19-year-old midfielder who was on the bench at Swansea.
Forward Lennon Wheeldon, also 19, featured in the Carabao Cup win at West Brom in August and is now on loan with National League North club South Shields.
The dream is for players like Eames and Wheeldon to play for Derby in the Premier League. It will take plenty of hard work to realise it, but this club is certainly heading in the right direction.
