The Rams and the Terriers both made it 5 games without loss after playing out an 8 goal thriller on Saturday afternoon.

Despite losing Bryson to injury before 10 minutes had even passed, Derby went a goal up courtesy of a Paul Ince curler on 16 minutes.

The Rams seemed to be in total control but after Zak Whitbread was also forced off with injury, they seemed to lose their way as the home team hit a quick fire triple to take what seemed to be an insurmountable lead.

In the 38th minute Conor Coady found Oscar Gobern in the area with a clever chip that allowed him to chest down the ball and beat Grant from close range.

On 40 minutes Hudson was unforgivably left all alone and unmarked as he was too easily able to head home a second goal for the home team.

Manchester United loanee James made it a perfect end to the half for Huddersfield, when he scored to make it 3-1 to the home team on 45 minutes.

It was all falling apart for the Rams as they stared down the barrel of a massive defeat as half time came around.

HT: 3-1

Simon Dawkins revived the Rams hopes when on 52 minutes when he cleverly guided a ball past the Terriers keeper to make it 3-2.

Dawkins shot again on 61 but his deflected shot came back to him, a clever lay off to Lingard teed up the Rams loanee who struck truly and things were all square at 3-3. Wells temporarily regained the lead for the home team when he made it 4-3 on 72’ before Ince cleverly curled his shot into the net on 79 minutes.

4-4 and that is how it would remain despite both teams determined to add a 9th goal to what was an amazing game of attack minded yet suicidal football.

FT: 4-3

Somehow the Rams pulled the result out of the fire as they looked dead and buried at half time.

Injuries did not help, as the loss of Whitbread in particular, seemed to unsettle Derby who up until that point had looked quite comfortable.

The rescued point could prove enormous as now one win will be enough to secure Derby’s top 6 status after other results fell their way.

The Lions will be desperate to force a result next Saturday when they welcome the Rams, as they try to turn around what seems to be certain relegation.

Derby will need to settle their defence or top 6 will be least of their concerns as heading into play-offs leaking like a sieve, can only end badly.

We can only hope they are ironing out the creases and the best is yet to come.

We can only hope!

COYR!

Match Info / Rams Team:

Ref: Dean Whitestone

Crowd: 15,889

Derby: Grant, Shotton, Keogh, Whitbread (Christie 27’), Warnock, Hendrick, Bryson (Dawkins 9’), Hughes (Russell 79’), Ince, Lingard, Bent.

Unused Subs: Roos, Sammon, Ward, Forsyth.

Match Stats — Huddersfield / Derby:

Goals: Gobern 38’ Hudson 41, James 45’, Wells 72’ / Ince 16’&79’, Dawkins 52’, Lingard 61’

Possession: 44% / 56%

Shots On Target: 6 / 5

Shots Off Target: 12 / 5

Corners: 8 / 2

Fouls: 14 / 7

We Said / They Said - Match Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

"We are crawling over the line and we don't make it easy for ourselves. For the neutrals it was great, for the managers it was a nightmare and for the fans it had ups and downs.”

"We need one more win and that's our only focus - but the way we are defending at the moment, anyone could beat us. We are not in a good condition but we are scrapping."

They said — Chris Powell:

"People say we have nothing to play for but the players showed they care about this club and their own performances.”

”It's a shame we didn't get the three points our first-half performance warranted but we are building for the future. We can do better and that's the message I will be getting through to the players."

Highlights / Post Match Interviews:

Up Next For The Rams:

Millwall vs. Derby

The Den

3pm — Saturday 25th April

Photo: Action Images

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