Derby boss John Eustace insists his side will “fight until the end” for Sky Bet Championship survival after they earned an important 2-0 win over Coventry.
The Rams took the lead midway through the first half when Marcus Harness’ free-kick found the head of Matt Clarke and he made no mistake in nodding home from close range.
The hosts started the second half brightly and had their rewards three minutes after the interval as Callum Elder’s shot was blocked into the path of Harness, who slotted in his first goal since October.
Six points from six took Derby to within a point of Cardiff who are in 21st and Eustace could not hide his delight at the attitude his side showed.
He said: “Very proud of the effort of the group. The heart and desire they showed tonight after a tough game on Saturday to do it again tonight was outstanding.
“We’re fighting for our lives. We want to stay in the league, we’re fighters not victims, that’s the mentality we are trying to push to these players.
“Tonight we showed the never-say-die attitude. When we went ahead we looked comfortable and full credit to the players.
“It’s important we have that siege mentality where we are being written off and people think we are down. It’s going to be a difficult ask to keep us up but we will fight until the end.”
Derby could move out of the relegation zone on the weekend but face a trip to fellow relegation fighters Plymouth on Saturday.
Eustace insists the squad are now focused on the job in hand on the weekend.
He added: “They’re happy but focused. We understand there are nine games to go and we have to keep being competitive.
“Everyone understands the seriousness of the situation we are in. It’s very important to understand there will be difficult moments coming up as well.
“We don’t want to get too high with the highs and too low with the lows. Stay very focused and take each game as it comes.”
Following five consecutive wins, Coventry slipped to a first defeat in over a month since their 2-0 loss to Leeds at the start of February.
Frank Lampard understands difficult nights like the one on Tuesday are part of the process.
He said: “Off the back of the run we’ve been on we have to understand these nights can come.
“We have to be balanced about that. As much as it’s not nice, it’s not realistic to keep winning and winning.
“There are things we want to do better but we have to be realistic in the big scheme of things.
“From where we were to where we are now is a big positive – and one negative result I won’t sit here and criticise the group. We have to go again.”
Luton boss Matt Bloomfield was lost for words after his side enjoyed a 90th-minute 1-0 victory against Coventry that kept their hopes of staying in the Championship alive.It looked like the Hatters were going to be held to a frustrating stalemate, as they had initially been playing against 10 men when Jay Dasilva was sent off on 12 minutes.Town midfielder Liam Walsh was also shown red midway throu...
Noel Hunt is excited for Reading’s last game of the Sky Bet League One season with the Royals remaining in the mix for a play-off place.Hunt’s team have lost only once in their last eight games on the road and they weathered a storm at the Memorial Stadium to eventually see off Bristol Rovers 2-0 and stay in the chase for the top six.Reading will try to leapfrog Leyton Orient in the ta...
Burnley boss Scott Parker never doubted his players would maintain their intensity despite promotion having already been achieved.The Clarets emphatically boosted their Sky Bet Championship title hopes by hammering QPR 5-0 in their penultimate match of the season.It moved them to the top of the table, three points ahead of Leeds, although the Yorkshire side, who are at home to Bristol City on Mond...
Darren Moore could not hide his pride at steering Port Vale back into League One following a 2-0 win over AFC Wimbledon.Two second-half goals from Jayden Stockley and Jaheim Headley sealed an immediate return to the third tier for the Vale Park outfit.As players and fans alike celebrated in the away end, Moore reflected on the achievement – and admitted his focus in this match was on gaining...
Richie Wellens felt the overall display from his Leyton Orient team was excellent in their 1-0 victory over Wycombe.Orient took another step towards the play-offs after Randell Williams’ second-half header proved the difference at Brisbane Road.It was Orient’s fifth successive win and they now travel to Huddersfield next Saturday knowing that, with their superior goal difference, they ...
Notts County all-but guaranteed their place in the League Two play-offs courtesy of a 3-1 victory at Harrogate.The Magpies ended their four-match winless run thanks to Conor Grant’s second-half brace, leaving them fifth in the table and six points clear of eighth-placed Colchester.County took the lead in the 33rd minute when George Abbott fired home after David McGoldrick’s initial eff...
Luton climbed out of the Championship bottom three for the first time since January thanks to Shandon Baptiste’s 90th-minute goal as they beat play-off chasing Coventry 1-0.The Hatters looked like they would go to West Brom next weekend with their destiny definitely out of their own hands, only for Baptiste, who had been on the field for just 11 minutes, to find the net and lift the roof off...
Leyton Orient remain on course for the Sky Bet League One play-offs after a 1-0 win which dented Wycombe’s hopes of automatic promotion.Randell Williams scored the only goal of the game and Orient’s victory, their fifth in succession, leaves them ahead of seventh-placed Reading on goal difference.Defeat for the Chairboys, though, has handed the initiative to Wrexham, who could seal the...
Doncaster clinched promotion to League One after goals from Rob Street and Billy Sharp secured a 2-1 win over 10-man Yorkshire rivals Bradford.In an incident-packed encounter in front of over 12,500 fans – the Eco-Power Stadium’s biggest crowd of the season – Doncaster hit the post through Jordan Gibson before on-loan Lincoln striker Street gave Rovers a 33rd-minute lead with his...
Reading’s hunt for a Sky Bet League One play-off spot will go to the final day of the season after the Royals beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 at the Memorial Stadium.Lewis Wing’s eighth league goal of the season after 67 minutes and Chem Campbell’s added-time effort leaves the Pirates staring at relegation after Noel Hunt’s side had to survive a first-half onslaught from the hosts....
- 1 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 2 Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace dazzles in low-cut top and mini skirt
- 3 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 4 We always have a chance – Miron Muslic bullish as Plymouth boost survival hopes
- 5 Tottenham to compete with Man City for defender
- 6 Ten-man Falkirk beaten by Raith as late goals keep title race alive
- 7 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 8 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 9 Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola fumes over point claimed at 10-man Crystal Palace
- 10 Daily Laugh - Totttenham 1-2 N Forest