John Eustace will be fuming with the EFL’s decision ahead of Derby County’s clash against Coventry City

Add as preferred source on Google

Derby County return to Championship action this weekend as they face Coventry City in their first home game of the season.

The Rams left it late to take their Carabao Cup first round match against West Bromwich Albion to penalties, with Joe Ward scoring a sensational free kick from an incredibly tight angle in the 96th minute to rescue his side.

Josh Vickers proved to be the hero in the shootout, as John Eustace’s side progressed through to round two. However, full focus is now back on the league after a difficult first game of the season for the East Midlands outfit.

Derby have a good record at home against Coventry, and they will be hoping history repeats itself at Pride Park on Saturday, but Eustace will be frustrated with one decision made by the EFL.

• READ MORE – Sheffield Wednesday protest details vs Stoke City shared as ‘symbolic funeral’ for club planned

John Eustace has history with the referee for Derby County vs Coventry City

After a 2-0 victory over the Sky Blues in their last meeting, the Rams will be hoping to continue this run. However, there may be frustration at the choice of referee for the game, with Anthony Backhouse having sent Eustace off in April 2024.

The situation occurred just after half-time in Blackburn Rovers’ 0-0 draw with Coventry at Ewood Park as Kasey Palmer went to collect the ball near the home dugout. Words were exchanged between Eustace and the player, with Backhouse sending the current Derby boss off for his role in the situation.

Eustace was fined £2,500, but did avoid a touchline ban. He went on to explain his thoughts on the coming together (via: Lancashire Telegraph): “I was just trying to get the ball back, the lad was in my technical area.

“I was just trying to get the ball back as quickly as I could. I don’t think I was aggressive in any manner at all.”

• READ MORE – Three Lewis Travis replacements Blackburn Rovers should pursue after worrying transfer update

Anthony Backhouse has officiated the Rams on just four previous occasions

Derby head into the clash with some renewed confidence after their penalty shootout victory against West Brom, and with Lewis Travis pushing for a move to Pride Park, their next signing could well be on the way.

The club as a whole looks very different to the one that Backhouse last saw when he officiated the East Midlands club last time out, with it being over two years since he took charge of a game involving the Rams.

He oversaw Ipswich Town’s 2-0 victory over Derby in April 2023, with Paul Warne’s side having a goal disallowed before the Tractor Boys doubled their lead in DE24.

Backhouse also officiated the Rams’ FA Cup success over Newport County that season, as well as the first game of the David Clowes era – two years after his first Derby game, which came against Sheffield United in the Carabao Cup in 2021.