After completing the full 90 minutes away to Watford reserves last week this match provided Mo Konjic with the opportunity to make his competitive Pride Park debut albeit at reserve rather than senior level.
The Bosnia Captain had won virtually all of his aerial battles last time out in front of a handful of dedicated Derby watchers, but this was the first opportunity for the majority of Rams fans to cast any judgement on him.
The centre-half looked comfortable, but was matched up against inexperienced youngsters. He would, undoubtedly, benefit from any match practice though.
There was little to recommend the first half. Derby shaded it with what chances there were.
Although largely quiet Junior had two opportunities which he wasted. Once from open play and once with a free kick.
The best chance of the half fell to David Cassidy, who having been played in by Lewin Nyatanga, stripped keeper Yves Makubu of the ball and fired goalward only to be denied by a clearing header from Steven Watt.
Junior again failed to make the most of two good opportunities in the early stages of the second half, while Gianfranco Labarthe Tome pounced on a goalkeeping error only to fire wide.
Derby thought they had taken the lead on 54 minutes when Konjic headed powerfully home after starting the move in the centre circle only to have it ruled out for offside.
The match erupted into controversy in the 78th minute when Nathan Doyle was sent off after getting involved in an incident with Sam Tillen.
Galvanized by the seeming injustice the Derby backline hung on for a draw despite the visitors drawing strength from the one man advantage.
Derby:- L Grant, Doyle, Martin, Booth, Konjic (Young 75), Mills. Cassidy, Wilkinson, junior (Kemp 84), Labarthe Tome, Nyatanga.
Unused subs:- Richardson, Nix, Davies.
Chelsea:- Makabu, Mancienne (Smith 45), S Tillen, Pettigrew, Watt, Morais, Oliviera, Smith, Woodards, Hollands, J Tillen.
Unused subs:-, Hamann, A Grant, Younghusband, Gallaccio.
Referee:- Mr R M Pollock.
Attendance:- 1381