Fantastic support saw Derby end their Premiership awaydays at Blackburn. We had Fun, Fun, Fun, till the stewards took the inflatables away.
A promise made. A promise kept. At Wembley, "If we go up Son, we'll go to every away game". And what a long strange trip it's been.
It started on a Wednesday in Manchester and ended a short bus trip away in Blackburn on a sunny Saturday. In between we've seen players come and players go, two managers, one win on the road and that after extra time and penalties against strugglers Sheffield Wednesday in the Cup.
So it's been bleak? Well actually no, it's been fun in a black humour Derbyshire type way. Take yesterday; a party atmosphere, Hawaiian shirts, palm trees, and other inflatables, sheep of course, a big red lobster that moved Ray Wilkins like across the crowd. Beach balls that were taken away by Men with Mikes and a lass too, they dress up well in Blackburn tha' knows.
But the prize for the most unusual blow up must be the purple dragon pool inflatable that eventually made it way onto the pitch only to be confiscated before eventually re-appearing as a ride along being pulled along by a chubby Blackburn lass. Perhaps the pies were to blame, for the size of the lass not for the dragon changing allegiance you understand.
And if pies could change your support then the supposed pie capital of the UK, Wigan, would be hard run by those in the Golden Cup, especially the Hotpot Pie washed down with an excellent kept pint of Thwaites Mild. Bolton road's Bakery a tasty Potato and Meat offering that beats those in the ground to submission by the first bite. Whilst further down the road in the chippy I'm accosted by a Blackburn shirted fan who wants to know which part of Derby I'm from. "Chadd originally I tell him". "Mansfield me" he says, "Used to have a ticket for Derby", "Why Blackburn" then I ask? "Money. It only costs £200 odd quid". I make my excuses and leave before the urge to ask about Yorkshire blood overwhelms me.
Inside the ground, Pirates, one legged stuffed Parrots, more sheep (how do you explain the hole to kids by the way) and a whole pineapple smuggled through the turnstiles before it's luck ran out as it was confiscated when it made its way out into the sunshine at Ewood Park.
Teams come out and we're dressed all in black at our own funeral, in the stands it's an Irish wake, singing dancing and partying the day away.
Sunshine in the sky and in our hearts, then an early goal, courtesy of Miller. A long punt by Carroll, Arsenal Arms raised, Miller looks left then right, no flag, turns, a couple of touches then a fine finish past Friedel.
It can't last. It never does. Black and White vertical stripes excepted. So by the time injury time had been signalled we were level. Pedersen wasn't closed down, his shot swerving, Carroll parries and Santa Cruz nails the rebound.
Half time and a welcome chance to sit down, must be my age, mind anyone near could tell that by the way we were eating Black Jacks and Fruit Salads. Kids at heart really.
Second half and barely had we stood before a Todd backpass gifted Blackburn their second. The normal comment of "What was he thinking of" wasn't even mouthed, he couldn't have been thinking. Inch perfect setting up Roberts, cutting out the whole Rams defence and Roberts coolly makes the net billow.
Now it's just a case of how many.
Three was the answer and that was down to the excellence of Carroll who was sold down a very long river by his teammates.
The third for the record, a cross not even scoured with scissors let alone cut out and Cruz nods home. Blackburn deserved more.
Derby fans celebrate the goal. Any goal. Even pretend ones. It bemuses the home support. It amuses those travelling and gawd knows what the players make of it. Quite frankly though we have long since given up worrying about those on the pitch.
This season has been a journey. It hasn't mattered to where it's about how you get there. We have got there in style as a team with friendship. We the fans.
To those who read these reports, thank you for being kind and listening if not always agreeing with their content.
Cheers
Blackburn: Friedel, Reid, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Emerton, Vogel (Tugay 61min), Pedersen (Olsson 79min), Santa Cruz, Roberts (Derbyshire 79min).
Derby: Carroll 7, Todd 3, Moore 5, Addison 5, McEveley 4, Mears 4, Ghaly 6 (Sterjovski 5 66min), Savage 6, Lewis 5 (Villa 5 72min), Earnshaw 5, Miller 5.
Referee: U Rennie.
Attendance: 26,110.
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