Despite Steve McClaren trying to keep a lid on any talk of promotion — after defeating Barnsley — it will be no easy task after the Rams leapt up to 2nd in the Championship courtesy of a 9 game unbeaten run. The lid is well and truly off!

The Rams made one change to the team that drew at Huddersfield with Johnny Russell giving Jamie Ward a breather on the bench, while Will Hughes overcame illness to start in his normal midfield role.

Barnsley’s new manager Danny Wilson has seemingly been tightening up Barnsley’s performances but the table doesn’t lie as at the start of play they still sat bottom of the table, desperate for their first home since October.

Derby looked desperate to atone for the opportunities lost at Huddersfield and attacked the home side with vigour in opening exchanges.

This all action opening from the Rams paid dividends early when on 8 minutes, Johnny Russell raced in from the wing to find Simon Dawkins with a cross-field pass.

Dawkins did what Dawkins does and ran at the defence, daring them to come at him, cleverly Martin took the ball from Dawkins mid-dribble and shot truly to beat Tykes keeper Luke Steele.

From here it could have been a case of ‘by how many’ as the Rams continued to dominate the play. Russell in particular was in the thick of the action as he did his best to press for a regular starting spot. The Scot shot narrowly wide on 13 minutes when he found himself with space on the edge of the box as he swooped in from the right.

The Rams dominance failed to produce a second goal and as is usually the case, the opposition will turn the tide for a dominant spell and try and wrestle back the game, The Tykes elevated their work rate and when Stephen Dawson turned and shot, Grant had to turn the ball away for a corner that resulted in Peter Ramage heading straight into his arms.

Chris O’Grady’s shot from outside 20 yards only to see it blocked while Martin Cranie should have done better when he headed wide from an inviting cross.

Four chances, four reminders, that like the match at Huddersfield on Boxing Day, if the Rams did not capitalise while on top — then once again some or all points could be lost.

Bryson should have got the elusive second goal in stoppage time when he was handed a chance following some great team play, the delivery to Bryson was so good that he should have just been able to just tap it in but somehow Bryson’s usually impeccable radar eluded him, and he tapped to the keeper, when the slightest of angle would have done the job.

Half time came and with it worries of not being far enough in front. But it could have been worse, we might not have been in front, these were instead are the worries of fans used to winning. It’s a new feeling isn’t it!

HT: 0 — 1

Derby came out with the look of a team determined not to repeat their mistakes as they went about dismantling any Barnsley resistance and cutting them open at will.

Various chances came and went without result but the writing was on the wall and when Andre Wisdom raced away down the right on 49 minutes and sent in a sublime cross that like a homing beacon picked out Chris an unmarked Chris Martin who headed home truly from the back post.

It seemed that everyone believed that The Rams would now pile on the goals as they ran rampant with a headless home side chasing shadows. The goals didn’t come and herein rests the concern that Derby doesn’t punish their opposition when they have them on their knees.

Just after the 60 minute mark ticked past, former Nigel Clough scratching post and Rams forward Tomasz Cywka, showed Derby fans what many of them always knew he could do if given the chance. He produced a couple of party tricks before shooting from 25 yards, the rocket of a strike found the bottom left-hand corner and signalled that the Rams were going to have to fight for all 3 points.

Cywka had joined the party as a second half substitute and seemed determined to prove a point while spoiling the near 6000 travelling Ram fans party. Luckily for the partying fans, Cywka’s second attempt was blocked and midfielder Jim O’Brien’s pile driver was saved by Grant.

The Tykes were throwing the kitchen; bathroom and laundry sink at the Rams as they seemed to be playing with 10 up front as they attempted to pull down their high flying visitors.

Instead the Rams could have easily caught them on the break a couple of times with both Russell and Jamie Ward going close to finishing the game off.

O’Grady could have stolen a point at the death for Barnsley, when in injury time he looked set to score from close range, but after being found unmarked in the box, he decided instead to try and injure a passing bird as he inexplicably shot over from 12 yards out.

With that it seemed the Rams luck that had been lost last week returned.

The final whistle was blown and Derby shot to 2nd in the Championship courtesy of results elsewhere.

FT: 1 — 2

McClaren and his crew will tell us all not to get carried away and frankly that is what you want to hear from the man steering the ship. If he was sailing the good ship DCFC while sipping champagne and spending his promotion bonus early — we would no doubt quickly find a stray iceberg.

In short, this was a day to savour. After years of toil, promises and slow progression, each and every supporter that has been there through thick and thin deserves a day like this.

For at least two days you can look at the League table and be proud of your team that suddenly has a bright future full of genuine hope and positivity.

Personally just being able to write those last few sentences in a match report is like Christmas coming all over again.

Years of punching out near misses, close enough’s or never in the hunt’s, takes a toll on even the most avid of Rams fans, let alone those who have to then sit down and write about it, when chewing on broken glass would probably be more enjoyable.

Passion and loyalty keeps us going but the road Derby is travelling currently provides the extra fuel we all need from time to time. It reminds us that following football does not always have to be the most pure form of sadism.

I for one couldn’t wait to sit down in front of my computer today and I bet each and every Rams fan has an equivalent joyful story to tell.

Now we await New Years Day and a chance at home to solidify our lofty position against Wigan.

Savour the moment as these days are not forever — but hopefully part of what Derby are fast becoming - for many years to come!

Match Reaction:

We Said - Rams Head Coach Steve McClaren:

"There's a still a long way to go but, as I've said before, if someone said you'd be where you're now, I'd have said 'You're crazy, you're barking mad'. The players deserve the credit; everybody's responded from day one, which we've been very fortunate with because sometimes with a change of management it can take time."

"The fans have backed us in terms of coming back to Pride Park and supporting us and we've got 6,000 travelling supporters behind the goal. That's a lot of responsibility on the players and they took that responsibility today to get the result."

"I thought we controlled the game completely, then all of sudden from nowhere they have a shot and it's a goal and then it's chaos and mayhem, which is the Championship. The players dug in and showed great resilience and I think that's a big word and a key word that we'll be using over the next few months."

"When you're challenging at the top, the season really begins with the last 10 games and if we're in this situation and if we've got a chance in the last 10 games then I think all the expectation and all the pressure comes. What we're doing at the present moment is enjoying the ride and let's see in March and April where we are and maybe get excited a little bit but at the moment there's a long way to go."

They Said - Barnsley Manager Danny Wilson:

"I've got mixed emotions," Wilson said. "I think the back end of the game was very positive from our point of view; the first part of the game, going two-nil down in the manner we did, was really disappointing."

"We can't allow a very good footballing side, as Derby are, time and space on the ball and we gave them too much. We allowed them to dictate the pattern and the pace of the game and that really hurt us."

Match Stats — Barnsley / Derby:

Possession: 49% / 51%

Corners: 3 / 3

Shots (On Target): 19 (3) / 14 (3)

Fouls: 16 / 12

Yellow Cards: 2 / 1

Match Info:

Attendance: 16,338 including an amazing 5823 Travelling Rams!

Referee: Mark Heywood

Derby County Polls