This weekend, Derby County will visit Birmingham City, both of which are chasing a Championship play-off spot.

John Eustace will face his previous side, the Rams, who are looking for their first top six finish in the second level since coming out of administration four years ago.

Meanwhile, Chris Davies’ team is still aiming for back-to-back promotions this season, despite a recent drop in form that cost them important points against sixth-place Southampton.

Derby are only three points behind the Saints, who advanced to the play-offs midweek with a 1-0 victory against Norwich City.

Eustace’s club has also won three of their last four games, whereas Birmingham has only won one of their last five.

The 46-year-old now has the opportunity to add to St. Andrew’s agony and further hurt their promotion aspirations, as his former club travels to Pride Park.

John Eustace opens up on his relationship with Birmingham owners.

Eustace was fired by Birmingham’s current owners in October 2023, despite the team’s sixth place in the Championship table.

He was replaced by Wayne Rooney, who lasted only 15 games before being fired, but the Derby manager has stated that he has no negative emotions toward Knighthead Capital.

When asked if there was any anger toward the Blues’ owners, he told Birmingham Live, “Absolutely not.”

“I enjoyed my time at the football club.

“It’s a fantastic football team to work for, and I’m confident they’ll achieve great success in the future.

Eustace brought Derby to St. Andrew’s in December of last year, and the two teams shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw in only his second return to his former club since leaving.

Patrick Agyemang gave the Rams the lead in the 27th minute, but Birmingham equalised through Jack Robinson.

Both teams concluded the match with only ten men after Joe Ward and Christoph Kramer were both sent off.

Davies is now under pressure to provide results, as Knighthead Capital wants the club to return to the Premier League as quickly as possible.

The Midlands club has not been in the top level since 2011, and they were in League One as recently as last season.

The Blues were relegated from the Championship barely seven months after Eustace’s dismissal.

Birmingham will travel to Derby on Saturday for a 12.30pm kick-off, hoping to cut the seven-point deficit to the play-off places.

John Eustace and Birmingham have rebounded from his short-sighted dismissal.

Eustace was performing well at Birmingham, so his dismissal two and a half years ago came as a surprise.

However, both the manager and the team have rebounded from that catastrophe in recent years, with the 46-year-old doing admirably for Derby.

Meanwhile, Birmingham may not be able to sustain a play-off push throughout the season, but supporters can be encouraged that the team is better equipped now than it was under previous ownership.

Knighthead Capital was just a few months into their ownership when they fired Eustace, and it’s evident that they’ve learned from their mistake as they focus on bringing top-tier football back to Birmingham.