Derby County are in the thick of a relegation battle at the bottom of the Championship as they look to avoid an instant return to League One.

New head coach John Eustace faces his first home game in charge today when they tackle Millwall at Pride Park as the Rams look to bounce back from a 4-0 defeat to QPR last Friday.

Eustace says Derby face 13 cup finals as they look to avoid relegation and there will be further twists and turns to come in what is going to be gripping survival battle.

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Here DerbyshireLive takes a look at the teams around them and below them, their next five games and the verdict on the fixtures that lie ahead.

Portsmouth

Manager: John Mousinho (appointed January 2023)

Form: LDLWW

Fixtures: QPR (h), Luton (a), Leeds (h), Plymouth (h), Preston (a)

Verdict: Pompey's home form has been decent and has largely been responsible as to why they have managed to climb out of the relegation zone. They stuck with manager John Mousinho and that looks to be a decision that is paying off so far.

There are two big fixtures on the horizon that will have a large bearing on their season coming up with Plymouth at home which comes after a trip to Luton with both of those teams in the bottom two.

Leeds will be tough as they do look like champions in waiting, but they will fancy their chances against QPR.

Stoke City

Manager: Mark Robins (appointed January 1)

Form: LDWLW

Fixtures: Norwich (a), Middlesbrough (h), Watford (h), Coventry (a), Blackburn (h)

Verdict: Although Norwich were not great against Derby, they do have the luxury of having Borja Sainz back from a six-game ban. The winger is one of the best attacking players in the division.

But Robins is a wily campaigner and knows the Championship well. Middlesbrough are under huge pressure at the moment with Michael Carrick needing an upturn in fortunes and quickly.

There are some tricky games in there with Robins' return to Coventry looming on the horizon while Blackburn, chasing a playoff finish, will be a difficult game too.

Cardiff City

Manager: Omer Riza (caretaker from September 22, appointed December 5)

Form: DWLLD

Fixtures: Plymouth (a), Hull (h), Burnley (h), Sunderland (a), Luton (h)

Verdict: Cardiff have three fixtures in this next run that will give determine a lot about their season. They've got Plymouth up next and they are going great guns at the minute having been buoyed by their FA Cup success over Liverpool.

That is then followed by Hull City who have spent big, but have yet to really get it together under Ruben Selles. Burnley and Sunderland look very difficult propositions, and then this mini-run of games is followed by a game against rock-bottom Luton.

Hull City

Manager: Ruben Selles (appointed December 9)

Form: LWLLD

Fixtures: Sunderland (a), Cardiff (a), Bristol City (a), Oxford (h), West Brom (a)

Verdict: They have a dreadful home record and despite spending big in the January window, they have yet to really find the form that many expected would occur after signing the likes of Louie Barry and Kyle Joseph.

Sunderland away looks a hugely difficult fixture as does West Brom at the end of the next five games. Gary Rowett's Oxford side have been defensively disciplined and will be no pushovers while Bristol City are no mugs either.

Cardiff is undoubtedly the biggest game of the lot given the mini-league that is forming at the bottom.

Plymouth Argyle

Manager: Miron Muslic (appointed January 10)

Form: LDWWL

Fixtures: Cardiff (h), Sheffield Wednesday (h), Portsmouth (a), Derby (h), Watford (a)

Verdict: The win over Liverpool in the FA Cup was a huge shot in the arm for Argyle and that was followed by an impressive win over Millwall.

After being written off earlier in the season under Wayne Rooney, Argyle have been inspired by some shrewd defensive signings that has helped them no end. They scrapped to a point against Luton in midweek and are better at home than away.

They will fancy their chances against Cardiff and Wednesday before they face Portsmouth and Derby in what is another huge game at the bottom.

Luton Town

Manager: Matt Bloomfield (appointed January 14)

Form: LLDLL

Fixtures: Watford (a), Portsmouth (h), Burnley (a), Cardiff (a), Middlesbrough (h)

Verdict: Low on confidence and without a win in 11 Championship games, Luton are on a worse run than Derby.

They've got a game against fierce rivals Watford up next and you would back Tom Cleverley's side there. Portsmouth at home and Cardiff away are huge games that they have to win.

Burnley are fighting for promotion and are very hard to beat. Middlesbrough are in tricky spell, but are still blessed with quality nonetheless.

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