Derby County boss John Eustace says the opening three months of the season have been the "toughest" of his managerial career.

The Rams are in the relegation places with just one win from 13 Championship games so far this term.

The slow start to the season follows a drawn-out and ultimately failed takeover attempt at the club during the summer, compounded by injury woes which have forced a number of key players out of action.

Former Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City boss Eustace, who has come under increasing pressure to keep his job in recent weeks, admits the Rams side he guided to within four points of the play-off places last term are now in a fight to avoid the drop.

"It's been the toughest three months, definitely, through recruitment and personnel that are available to us," he told BBC East Midlands Today.

"But it's part of the job and I have to get my head around that and try to find solutions."

Derby, whose defeat by Millwall on Saturday was their sixth loss in a nine-match winless run, host Norwich City on Tuesday night.