The final home game of the season sees the Tigers host Derby County in a huge fixture in the Sky Bet Championship. Let's build up to the clash in our pre-match preview!
The Opposition:
Sitting in 21st place, Derby County have a tally of 46 points from 44 league games played thus far, two points behind the Tigers with two games left to play.
In their last game, they picked up a 3-1 away victory at West Bromwich Albion on Easter Monday, with Ebou Adams, Jerry Yates and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing all scoring for the Rams.
Since his arrival at the Rams in February 2025, John Eustace has overseen 12 games as their head coach. This has resulted in him picking up five victories, two draws and five defeats.
Eustace spent just over a year at previous club Blackburn Rovers where he took charge of 52 matches which consisted of 18 wins, 15 draws and 19 losses. He’s also had managerial stints with Kidderminster Harriers and Birmingham City.
Prior to embarking on his coaching/management journey, Eustace had a 19-year playing career in which he plied his trade for sides including Coventry City, Stoke City and Watford and had two spells with the Rams. He registered 434 appearances and 36 goals across the time he had with all his clubs.
The Rams added four players to their squad in the winter window. They made the permanent signings of Lars-Jørgen Salvesen, Matt Clarke and Sondre Langås and loaned in Harrison Armstrong.
Derby later brought in Kemar Roofe, Jeff Hendrick and Erik Pieters permanently outside of the window.
Ben Radcliffe, James Collins and Eiran Cashin left the club on permanent deals, while ex-Tiger Sonny Bradley was sent out on loan to League One side Wycombe Wanderers.
(Jerry Yates celebrates scoring away at Portsmouth in April 2025.)
Press Call:
Head Coach Rubén Sellés and captain Lewie Coyle spoke to the media in the pre-match press conference ahead of the Derby clash. Take a look at what they said below:
Rubén Sellés
“With that result and the performance of the second half, we are full of confidence that we can arrive into the weekend and do our job. The boys have been brilliant in training the last couple of days. We hope to arrive with energy, togetherness and ambition to get the result and finish the season better.” – Sellés reflecting on Monday’s win and the days after.
“We know it’s difficult when you go into a team that hasn’t won for a while and to make that turnaround is always difficult. John did a very good job with Blackburn, and they were in the play-offs when we played them near Christmas. He has just found a way for the team to win football matches and be competitive and that’s credit for him. Our task is just to make their target not happen and create our own destiny by beating them.” – Sellés on the job John Eustace has done at Derby County.
“Now is the moment you want to play for. I am ready for it and ready to coach our team. I like those moments, it’s all or nothing and hopefully it’s an end point. I have been in these scenarios as a coach and now a manager. These are the moments you prepare yourself for. We have been building a lot of things here. For me, this game means we have the possibility of after the suffering, enjoying and working, we can close it in the best way possible by fighting for what will hopefully be that final game.” – Sellés on the big potential outcome on Saturday.
Lewie Coyle:
"Really pleased for the boys. It was never going to be easy when we went one-nil behind, but again, unbelievable character from the boys, especially the period where we are in the season and what is at stake. The response from the boys was fantastic to get the goal back and then go in front which leaves us a really good feeling heading into Saturday." - Coyle reviews the Easter Monday win over Preston North End.
"We are going into the game like we have done for all the games this season looking to get three points, but the spot we are in, let’s be realistic, if we win on Saturday, it is done. That needs to be the mindset going into that game which it would have been anyway regardless of where we was in the table, but to have that clarity to go and beat Derby on Saturday and it is done." - Coyle previews the Derby clash.
"We need to draw on the crowd. They were fantastic against Preston and we need that. Stick together. It has to be all of us that do it. We saw the impact they had on the game against Preston and when we got the goal back, the noise straight away is lifted and we could hear them. The second goal goes in and that is the sort of moments you want to play in. You want to hear the crowd and hear it and feel it and we do feel it on the pitch. We need you there in full force and be as loud as you can and do it together." - Coyle on the importance of the fans.
Team News:
Head Coach Rubén Sellés has confirmed that he has received no new injuries ahead of the crucial clash against Derby County.
The Tigers will welcome Matt Crooks back from suspension following the midfielder’s two yellow cards away at Swansea City on Good Friday.
Sellés also provided an update on the fitness of on-loan winger Louie Barry after completing his rehabilitation with parent club Aston Villa.
“It (the squad) is looking fine. Everyone that played in the last game (against Preston North End) should be able to play and available for this game,” said Sellés.
“Matt Crooks is coming back from suspension. We are expecting Louie (Barry) back on Monday for him to join us in some form for the last game of the season.”
(Matt Crooks walks past the City coaching staff after being sent off against Swansea City.)
Last Time We Faced:
The Tigers locked horns with the Rams on Saturday 26 October 2024 at Pride Park.
After a good point at home to promotion-chasing Burnley just three days prior, City took the lead after 57 minutes through Xavier Simons' low finish into the bottom corner.
However, nine minutes later, Dajaune Brown found an equaliser for Derby as the points were shared in the Sky Bet Championship.
Take a look below at our dedicated Behind The Tigers episode from the fixture exclusively on Tigers Plus!