Derby County — Norwich City : Match Preview and Prediction for October 21,2025

The Rams’ Dire Form

The “Rams” are currently embroiled in a severe crisis. John Eustace’s squad languishes in 21st position and has failed to secure a victory in their last five league fixtures. Their most recent outing against Oxford United resulted in a disappointing 0-1 defeat, with the solitary goal conceded in the 25th minute of the first half. The manager himself expressed palpable fury over his players’ performance.

Eustace Demands a Response

Eustace explicitly stated that his team let themselves down and, for the first time this season, failed to compete for the full 90 minutes. He is demanding an immediate reaction and a return to fundamental principles: battling spirit and unwavering commitment. This sends a clear message that in their upcoming home game against a direct competitor, the primary emphasis from the opening whistle will be on defensive solidity and eliminating the errors that led to their previous conceded goal.

Derby’s Blunted Attack

Derby’s offensive capabilities appear distinctly lackluster. The team ranks last, 24th in the league, for total shots, shots from inside the box, and created goal-scoring opportunities. It’s improbable to expect a barrage of attacks from such a team right from the start of the match, especially when the manager’s foremost demand is for them “to be competitive.”

Norwich’s Precarious Position

The “Canaries” find themselves in an equally precarious situation. Positioned just one spot above Derby in the league standings, they are enduring a six-match winless streak, including three consecutive defeats. Manager Liam Manning is under immense pressure, and another setback could potentially seal his fate. In such circumstances, playing away from home, the paramount objective becomes avoiding defeat.

Manning’s Call for Resilience

Following the 0-1 loss to Bristol City, Manning lamented that his team was “too soft” and constantly “shooting themselves in the foot.” This suggests an intent to implement a more pragmatic and cautious approach to halt their losing run. Notably, the first half of that match ended goalless, and Norwich’s Expected Goals (xG) statistic for the opening 45 minutes was a paltry 0.09.

Squad Issues and Cautious Approach

The team is also grappling with significant personnel issues, which further discourages an open, attacking style from the outset. When key players are sidelined with injuries and results are pressing, managers frequently resort to more defensive formations to mitigate risks. A prudent and careful start for Norwich appears to be the only sensible strategy.