If you could bottle the feeling inside Pride Park during the opening ten minutes on Saturday for The Rams to sell, they would not be worried about the financial incentives of promotion. In stupendous sunshine, the Derby faithful rocked as John Eustace’s side flew out of the blocks against Sheffield United knowing a win and a bit of luck would be needed for a top six finish. Within sixteen seconds, Joe Ward shot low, his effort on the turn gathered by Adam Davies in net. M

Nobody enjoyed watching that. Portsmouth fans tearing their hair out. Derby fans biting their nails from behind the sofa, or a padded seat in the directors’ box as it was for the suspended John Eustace. Perhaps it was predictable that a game some fans billed as a battle of Rams skippers past and present would be ugly and marred by bookings. Neither Ebou Adams nor Lewis Travis are known for their playmaking prowess. Adams' second-minute shove on his armband-sporting successor

It may have been Craig Forsyth’s 37 th birthday, but it wasn’t just Mr. Derby County who received gifts on Tuesday. The Scottish stalwart marked his big day in style when he finished from six-yards-out to cancel out the Amir Hadžiahmetović corner which Callum Elder turned into his own net. And while referee Adam Herczeg neglected to give Forsyth a birthday card, he was the beneficiary of some lacklustre officiating – his strike should really have been flagged as offside.

Derby County Head Coach John Eustace marked a year at the helm with a Valentine's Day victory over Swansea City which had all the hallmarks of the side he has developed. With defensive resilience, swift transitions, and deadly dead balls, this was a fitting way to mark a year which has seen him transform The Rams' fortunes.