Darryl Powell scored his first goal in three seasons with the most bizarre
strike imaginable to give the Rams only their fourth Premiership win of the
campaign.
Midfielder Powell found the net on 68 minutes when he pumped the ball back
into the Leicester area after the Foxes had failed to clear Seth Johnson's
corner.
It looped high and towards Tim Flowers' far post as the keeper and Marvin
Robinson challenged.
But both men missed the ball and it sailed just under the bar to the delight
of the Derby team, who mobbed Powell.
The goal, the Rams captain's first goal since 1996-97, could not have come at
a more opportune time given County's perilous Premiership plight.
To describe it as a shot would be an injustice but it was still the visitors'
only effort on target at Filbert Street.
Tony Cottee, though, should have grabbed an equaliser, which was the least his
side deserved after dominating a mediocre match.
The striker only came off the bench after 73 minutes but shortly afterwards he
was put in by Muzzy Izzet after he had robbed Powell.
But from 12 yards out Cottee somehow managed to screw his shot beyond the far
post with only Mart Poom to beat.
The victory ends a run of five straight defeats - Jim Smith's worst stretch of
results since taking over as Derby manager in June 1995.
It was also their first away win since August 25, when they beat Sheffield
Wednesday, and it will give their fans renewed hope going into the Christmas
programme.
Derby are still in the relegation zone after Bradford beat Newcastle
but with points at a premium this season, they will not care about that.
Even so, this win should not mask the deficiencies - of which there are many
in the Rams side.
With Georgi Kinkladze on the bench, Derby were sadly lacking in creativity and
Leicester's defence had a quiet afternoon.
Smith will be hoping Branko Strupar can fire them to safety and the £3million
striker came on for the final 12 minutes for his first appearance in a Rams
shirt.
Leicester also gave a debut to £3million Darren Eadie and he looked bright,
especially in the first half.
But it says much about the character in their squad that they have done so
well this season inspite of all the boardroom conflict and off-field turmoil.
The EGM this Wednesday could end those problems, with the Gang of Four - led
by plc chief executive Barrie Pierpoint - in one camp and chairmen John Elsom
(club) and Sir Rodney Walker (plc) in the other.
Foxes manager Martin O'Neill reiterated this week that he will reconsider his
position if Elsom and Walker, his allies, are forced out and that would be the
worst Christmas present imaginable for Leicester fans.
On limited resources, he has guided the club to one League Cup and the final
of the same competition last season while at the same time establishing them as
a Premiership force to be reckoned with.
Derby, on the other hand, have seen a dramatic decline in their fortunes this
campaign after three years of stability since they were promoted alongside their
east Midlands rivals in 1996.
Last season's final League position of eighth now seems a long way away and
many Rams fans would settle for finishing 17th come May such is their present
plight.
Their problems were there for all to see today as they gave a performance
where the keyword was graft rather than craft.
But after last Saturday's FA Cup exit to Burnley, a clean sheet and three
points will seem like heaven for Derby.
Emile Heskey was kept quiet by a backline in which Steve Elliott in particular
was impressive and despite their opponents' ineptitude, Leicester were hardly
much better.
Eadie went close with a header and Izzet saw a drive flash wide before
Cottee's horrendous miss.
For Derby, who had Deon Burton booked by David Elleray after nine minutes for
diving after he was challenged by Matt Elliott, Craig Burley had a long-range
drive deflected wide.
But Powell's freak goal gave them a priceless lead and Leicester could not
find a way back.
Teams:
Leicester: Flowers, Taggart, Walsh, Elliott, Savage,
Impey (Cottee 72), Izzet, Zagorakis, Oakes, Eadie, Heskey.
Subs Not Used: Gunnlaugsson, Gilchrist, Campbell, Arphexad.
Booked: Izzet, Zagorakis.
Derby: Poom, Powell, Dorigo, Prior (Schnoor 87), Delap,
Johnson, Laursen, Robinson (Strupar 78), Burley, Elliott,Burton.
Subs Not Used: Hoult, Christie, Kinkladze.
Booked: Burton, Prior, Powell, Johnson.
Goals: Powell 69.
Att: 18,581
Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
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