John Eustace should be the Championship Manager of the Season.
Scott Parker's pre-season sceptics have been made to look a bit daft with Burnley charging back into the Premier League and conceding just 15 goals en route. But, let's be honest, there's a limit on the credit you receive for getting a side worth £165M out of the second tier. It's par for the course.
John Eustace, on the other hand, has overperformed at two different clubs this season. Blackburn Rovers - who plenty backed to go down (including @GabSutton & @BenjaminBloom) - were fifth when he departed. Statistically, his Rovers side were better at home than Real Madrid were at that point! He then took over at Derby County who looked bankers for the drop and has dragged them to the brink of safety. Since the start of last month, only Millwall, Luton and the two top teams in the division have picked up more points than Derby's 20; the only sides with a better goal difference in that team is those two top teams.
Par for Blackburn Rovers would've been a lower midtable finish - John Eustace had them firmly in the play-off positions. Par for Derby County would've been the drop - John Eustace is almost certainly going to keep them up. Arguably two of the five biggest overperformances in the division this season have come from him. He should be the Championship Manager of the Season.
#Rovers #DCFC #EFL
A surreal moment for me, having my first ever fans column article published on the BBC Sport website.
I’m looking forward to doing more of these between now and the end of the season, and seeing where it all takes me.
Feel free to give it a read!😁🐏
https://t.co/mA6fUo9x4r
In 2022, League One Derby appointed Paul Warne who was in charge of Championship Rotherham.
In 2025, relegation-battlers Derby have appointed John Eustace who was in charge of play-off chasing Blackburn.
Pull.
#DCFC