DOUBLE PIVOT OF CLARK AND OZOH WAS FOURTH COMBINATION IN FIVE FIXTURES

Middle ground giving Eustace a choice for Rams

- By BRIAN DICK

WITH two home wins and two clean clean sheets in the space of five days there’s a feeling that things could be settling down at Derby County.

After the 1-0 win over QPR there seems to be more cohesion in attack, a stability at the back and a system that appears to manage whatever shortcomings the Rams have had on the flanks.

Combinations are key to that yet one area of John Eustace’s team remains consistently inconsistent, with injury and suspension forcing the Rams boss to make changes most matches.

Eustace would no doubt love to find the continuity in midfield that he seems to have in defence, where the triumvirate of Sondre Langas, Dion Sanderson and Matt Clarke offer a solid foundation and if the last game-and-a-half are anything to go by, can be inked on to the team sheet most matches.

However, with Lewis Travis and Liam Thompson injured and Ebou Adams suspended for the win over QPR, that has so far eluded him and Saturday’s double pivot of David Ozoh and Bobby Clark was the fourth combination in the last five fixtures.

To be fair, the signs were positive as Eustace paired Clark’s technical ability and composure with Ozoh’s power in the tackle, both demonstrating a welcome desire to play forward.

Travis, arguably the player Eus-tace really wants to take the team by the scruff of the neck and make it his own, is out with a calf problem. Adams is the vice captain - and regained the armband in Travis’ absence - but isn’t the distributor Ozoh and Clark are.