Derby County played out a frustrating goalless draw with Oxford United, extending their winless streak to ten matches. Amidst negotiations to appoint John Eustace as their new manager, the Rams struggled to break down a resolute Oxford defense. Despite the draw lifting them out of the relegation zone, Derby's performance left much to be desired, with interim manager Matt Hamshaw expressing his disappointment. Meanwhile, Oxford maintained their mid-table position, having suffered their first league defeat under Gary Rowett just a week earlier.
Derby County played out a goalless draw with Oxford United as the club continued negotiations to appoint Blackburn head coach John Eustace as their new manager. The 45-year-old Eustace is reportedly close to taking over from the Rams, but he was not present at Pride Park during the match. Derby's hierarchy spent the evening attempting to finalize a deal that would see Eustace swap a promotion push with Rovers for a relegation battle with the East Midlands side.
The draw extended Derby's winless streak to 10 matches across all competitions, although it did lift them out of the relegation zone on goal difference. The first half was largely uneventful, with limited chances created. Siriki Dembele came closest for Oxford, forcing Derby's Jacob Widell Zetterstrom into a diving save from distance. After the break, Lars-Jorgen Salvesen called Oxford goalkeeper Jamie Cumming into two saves in quick succession, while Marcus Harness headed over for the hosts. The stalemate marked Derby's second consecutive draw under interim manager Matt Hamshaw after ending a seven-match losing league run. Oxford, meanwhile, remain mid-table after suffering their first league defeat under former Rams boss Gary Rowett just a week earlier. Rowett's unbeaten first month in charge of the U's, which came to an end with the loss to Burnley, earned him the Championship manager of the month award for January. Before the trip to Derby, Rowett jokingly said he hoped he would not win the award 'because of the so-called curse' – referencing a perceived trend that winning the accolade precedes poor results. What he oversaw was a hard-fought draw against a team battling to avoid an immediate return to League One. Derby's interim manager Matt Hamshaw expressed his disappointment with the performance, stating, 'I'm disappointed and a bit frustrated... I thought we were a bit passive, I thought we were a bit one-paced and thought we didn't take enough risks.' However, he acknowledged the importance of the point gained and the clean sheet, saying, 'It doesn't feel like a great point at this moment in time, but tomorrow morning when I wake up and the lads come in... it might feel like a good point.' Oxford manager Gary Rowett remained upbeat despite the lackluster display, emphasizing the physical nature of the game and the efforts of both teams. He stated, 'It was a difficult game... It was quite physical, which Derby tried to make it. It's a strength they have got.' He also acknowledged the challenges of playing in a division where teams are fighting for their lives, saying, 'All teams are fighting for their lives aren't they.
Derby County Oxford United John Eustace Draw Relegation Battle Gary Rowett Championship
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