The Rams finally achieved a pre-season victory for the senior squad in their last public friendly before the big kick-off next Saturday.
Manager Phil Brown had always stated that the results of the friendlies was not as important as improving fitness and sorting out patterns of play, but their has been an underlying feelings that players were getting a little concerned that results had not been going their way.
Although Burton Albion are currently 3 divisions below their hosts they took the game to Derby for the first hour until the part timers ran out of steam.
Grzegorz Rasiak opened the scoring with a well-executed finish after being set up by Inigo Idiakez and Morten Bisgaard.
Albion managed to exploit holes in the Derby backline without causing Lee Camp any major worries.
The visitors’ performance seemed to move up a gear in the second period with the half time introduction of Paul Peschisolido.
The Canadian proved a real livewire causing Burton constant problems and played a major part in the second goal. He was tripped as he worked his way into the penalty area. Once the referee had pointed to the spot up stepped Tommy Smith to convert.
The Rams completed the scoring in second half stoppage time. Substitute Marcus Tudgay was the scorer converting an Andrew Davies header from an Idiakez corner.
Phil Brown had stated during the week that the starting line-up would (allowing for any incoming players during the week) be as close as possible to the one that turns out against Brighton next week.
Starting line-up: - Camp, Edworthy, Jackson, Davies, Johnson, Barnes, Bisgaard, Idiakez, Bolder, Smith, Rasiak.