For Derby, this was a day just a few weeks ago many worried would never come. Before kick-off, Liam Rosenior showed his players a video montage of the journey to this point, some of the tougher moments in the past couple of years – supporters marching outside this stadium for fear of the club’s future during a draining nine months in administration – but now the fanbase, among them the new owner, David Clowes, sense happier times.
As reference points go, this was an encouraging start to the new era. As Conor Hourihane celebrated scoring the only goal by moseying along the bottom of the South Stand, trailed by his teammates, Derby supporters were able to drink in the moment that earned a victory that carries significantly more weight than the three points it earned them on the first afternoon of the League One season.
