Leeds departed the Coca-Cola Championship on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Derby at Pride Park where Darren Currie and Tyrone Mears were on the scoresheet and United finished with 10 men.

A 10-point deduction triggered by the Elland Road club entering administration last week meant the Yorkshire club were doomed to end their season bottom of the table.

Meanwhile, the promotion-chasing Rams - who will play Southampton in the play-offs - were assured of a third-place finish even before kick-off.

The game was barely under way when, in the fourth minute, referee Phil Crossley was floored after colliding with Rams midfielder Seth Johnson.

A 10-minute delay ensued while Kent-based official was treated for a back injury before being taken to the nearby Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.

Fourth official Carl Boyeson was promoted to referee but it was not until the 24th minute Derby launched the afternoon's first attack of note as Craig Fagan made tracks along the right but fired across goal and narrowly wide.

And a weak Steve Howard effort from 18 yards out failed to trouble Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren with 40 minutes on the clock.

Derby pressed again during the 10 minutes of added time and after replacing Morten Bisgaard, Currie - on loan from Ipswich - was on target from close range after being set up by Johnson.

Derby ran out unchanged but Leeds manager Dennis Wise swapped Hayden Foxe for Tom Elliott in time for the start of the second half which opened with Stephen Bywater, back from suspension, saving Alan Thompson's free-kick fired from 25 yards out.

As play swung to the other end, Paul Peschisolido collected Jay McEveley's long ball though the corner won by the Canadian would prove fruitless.

Wise played his final cards in the 53rd minute when Robbie Elliott and Sebastien Carole were replaced by Fabian Delph, making his first senior appearance, and Jonathan Howson.

But the Rams were soon on the attack again though, this time Craig Fagan heading over from a central position ahead of Bywater tipping over another Thompson set-piece effort and watching another, moments later, sail harmlessly over the crossbar.

In the 63rd minute Jemal Johnson earned another free-kick for the visitors, this time in the right channel, which Bywater plucked out of the air.

Bywater's opposite number was palming away Seth Johnson's corner floated from the Derby right and from the second flag-kick, Lewin Nyatanga stooped to head wide of target.

Jon Macken replaced 17-goal Rams top-scorer Howard in the 67th minute but five minutes later Robert Bayly, making his first senior start for United, was shown a straight red card after attempting to headbutt Fagan.

Macken hit the bar with a header late on before he set free Mears to beat Ankergren one on one for Derby's second goal - and the utility player's first for the Rams - in the 87th minute.

Teams:

Derby Bywater, Mears, Leacock, Nyatanga, McEveley,Bisgaard (Currie 45), Pearson, Seth Johnson,Peschisolido (Lupoli 80), Howard (Macken 67), Fagan.

Subs Not Used: Michael Johnson, Malcolm.

Booked: Peschisolido, McEveley.

Goals: Currie 45, Mears 86.

Leeds Ankergren, Rui Marques, Robbie Elliott,Foxe (Tom Elliott 46), Gray, Carole (Howson 53), Thompson,Bayly, Cresswell, Johnson, Blake (Delph 52).

Subs Not Used: Stack, Moore.

Sent Off: Bayly (72).

Booked: Thompson, Robbie Elliott, Cresswell.

Att: 31,183

Ref: P Crossley (Kent).