Striker Fabrizio Ravanelli's wonder goal secured victory for Derby County over Midlands rivals Coventry City at Pride Park Stadium.

The 34-year-old White Feather conjured a top-drawer finish from nowhere to guarantee the Rams' First Division survival.

Squeezing high up the park, Derby enjoyed the early pressure but it was Coventry who registered the opening shot of afternoon, Gary McAllister having dribbled 30 yards only to blaze his shot high over the crossbar.

Pablo Mill's eighth-minute drive from a Giorgi Kinkladze corner brought a similar result for Derby and Gary Caldwell continued the theme after a McAllister flag-kick fell to him at the back post 10 yards out.

Tommy Mooney, returning to his accustomed role as a striker after his two-game spell as a central defender, gave the Sky Blues a fright just after the quarter-hour when fancy footwork took him around a grounded Mo Konjic and to the byline before a cut-back which would surely have found Fabrizio Ravanelli was neutralised by a telling interception from John Eustace.

Ravanelli went close to breaking the deadlock 10 minutes later though when a rasping 30-yard free-kick was inches wide of the target, the Italian then dismayed not to have been awarded a corner for an apparent deflection off the wall.

The Rams' Robert Lee swayed away from the Sky Blues midfield with a little more than 10 minutes until the interval but he too lost his bearings in front of goal and skewed the shot wide.

Moments later Kinkladze unlocked the Coventry defence with an impudent chip over Caldwell but indecision gripped Craig Burley and his attempted cross into the danger area was comfortably directed behind for a corner by a recovered Caldwell.

The hosts continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession after the break and threatened again when Lee sparked a sweeping move which saw the ball worked wide left to Mooney.

On loan from Premiership Birmingham City, Mooney supplied a pin-point cross but Ravanelli needed too many touches and was eventually crowded out by defenders.

Caldwell chanced his arm at the other end but though his 30-yard drive packed plenty of punch, accuracy was lacking once again.

The first on-target effort of the match was registered by Coventry substitute Christian Yulu who his effort saved by Grant, play swinging upfield and Burley seeing his thunderbolt drive blocked by Richard Shaw.

Ravanelli struck in the 62nd minute afte assuming possession 25 yards out on the right wing before stroking a glorious shot across keeper Gary Montgomery and into the far top corner.

And the celebrations proved extensive as the striker whipped off his shirt and embarked on a sprint along the touchline, play having restarted and been underway a good 60 seconds before Ravanelli finished kissing and hugging interim manager George Burley to rejoin the fray.

Adam Bolder could have netted a second for the Rams late on but spooned over from Ravanelli's supply.

Teams

Derby: Grant, Barton, Ritchie, Mooney (Bolder 67), Jackson, Mills, Burley, Lee (Valakari 85), Boertien, Kinkladze, Ravanelli.

Subs Not Used: Camp, Murray, McLeod.

Booked: Jackson, Bolder.

Goals: Ravanelli 62.

Coventry: Montgomery, Caldwell, Konjic, Shaw, Whing (Engonga 74), Eustace, Pead, McAllister, Gordon, McSheffrey (Yulu 58), Bothroyd.

Subs Not Used: Debec, Mackey, Davenport.

Booked: Eustace.

Att: 23,921

Ref: P Joslin (Nottinghamshire).