Three signings, three points: fears allayed with successful deadline day?

How’s that for a response?

After the depths of Saturday’s dismal defeat to Swansea and fears of regression if new faces did not arrive Tuesday brought a glorious fightback. John Eustace’s “true warriors” secured a 2-0 win over Portsmouth.

Nobody at Fratton Park embodied that spirit more than Lars-Jørgen Salvesen. He scored within three minutes of coming off the bench, just hours after rejecting a loan move and opting to fight for his place.

Eustace told BBC Radio Derby: “Today, there was an opportunity he could have left and he didn't. That's why I didn't start him, really. His attitude on Saturday, I felt, was excellent, considering he didn't even know if this was going to be home yet for him.”

His strike was a thunderous half-volley to finish a swift attack down the left. Having dropped deep to support Ryan Hedges in the build-up, the Norwegian was then found arriving in the box by Oscar Fraulo, who had chased down a lofted Bobby Clark pass. Salvesen took a deft touch with his right foot, and then anything but with his left, as he smashed the ball into the top corner with the power of a hammer-wielding Norse god.

He had been brought on to lead the press, offering a physical presence up front after an hour without a recognised number nine, and showed the difference that makes. Although Sam Szmodics, who had been the most advanced of Derby’s fluid front four, earlier opened the scoring from six yards when he snuck Clark’s cut-back in on the turn.

Salvesen’s goal had shades of his last, the icing on the cake in January’s 5-0 away thumping of Bristol City. Derby are still a world away from a night like that, when confidence and style oozed out of every orifice. But here were some of the foundations, the core principles that saw Eustace’s men build such an impressive away record last term. Structure and positional awareness at the back – a stark contrast to Saturday – twinned with the art of knowing when to pounce. A disciplined mid-to-high press pinned Portsmouth in, while The Rams looked to win turnovers and create overloads at pace.

And just as work-rate and determination to respond to set-backs was required on the pitch on Tuesday night, the same was true back at Moor Farm as Derby sealed three deadline day deals in the form of two returning heroes and a wildcard.

Diagonal-pass loving, left-footed centre back Eiran Cashin is back on a season-long loan from Brighton. The return of the academy graduate, who will provide cover for the injured Matt Clarke, was announced 15 minutes before kick-off, allowing the travelling flock to partake in “he hates the Forest” chants. Eustace said of the signing: “It's great. I know the fans love him. He's a really good player. We're delighted to bring him back and I'm sure he'll help the group.”

Post-match, further good news, Mohammed Fuseini arrived on a season-long loan from Union Saint Gilloise with an option to buy. A direct, pacey wide man who likes to run in behind, the Ghanaian has represented his country twice.

And the one that kept us all up, David Ozoh. After two loan spells, the 21-year-old midfielder is “completing the trilogy” by signing a five-year deal in a transfer worth around £4m. A Rolls-Royce of a midfielder able to combine speed, power and grace on the ball, he will slot straight into the middle of the park. Between him, Clark, 21, and Fraulo, 22, the engine room is now future-proofed.

Add in Henrik Meister, who was an unused substitute on the South coast and there you have the “three or four” players Eustace said he wanted on Saturday. Although he hinted at one more in Monday’s pre-match press conference, that may have been another winger. Not least to take the load off full backs – Ben Brereton Díaz showed the benefit of having athletic options there last term.

Ryan Hedges had his best game in black and white on the right, with his work-rate impressive as pressing was his primary function with so little of the ball. You could see how he could combine with a more attacking wing back like Joe Ward or Max Johnston for similar rotations to that of Ward and Brereton Díaz. Of course, Sondre Langås was much more defensive-minded covering on the right of the back four in Eustace’s ‘defence-first’ approach, but on the other side too, you could see the benefit of Charlie Taylor having a more defined role.

The 32-year-old made the most defensive contributions of any Derby player (13), excelling as he was not left making up ground constantly from first having to push forward. This despite The Rams width on the left coming from the fluidity of Rhian Brewster, Szmodics and Clark in possession, not one natural winger. Credit too must go to consummate professional Craig Forsyth, whose aerial ability was vital before he went off injured. And all this allowed Alex Mowatt to remain the metronome, keeping things ticking over in the middle rather than dropping into the backline in possession, thus freeing up Fraulo.

It is just one game, but that felt more like a John Eustace side. As in the transfer market, Derby have had to put their backs against the wall. They have dealt with set-backs, blocked out the noise and eventually, good opportunities have arisen. There have been nervy moments, and many frustrations, but most fans seem happy with the result.

Three signings and three points. Whether it is Salvesen’s rocket to seal the first win of the season, or Ozoh’s return, what will really matter is if Eustace’s warriors can carry this momentum into their next battle.

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Goals: Szmodics 17', Salvesen 62'.

Portsmouth (4-2-3-1): Bielica (GK); Devlin, Arthur, Dia, Swanson (Bailey 85’); Pack (C) (Shein 72’), Adams (Mohamed 72’); Kamara, Segečic, Kavuma-McQueen (Brooke-Smith 65’); Marezi (Bishop 65’).

Unused substitutes: Schmid (GK); Poole; Swift; Blair.

Derby (4-2-3-1: Zetterström (GK); Langås (C), Sanderson, Forsyth (Nyambe 80’), Taylor; Fraulo, Mowatt; Hedges (86’), Clark (Ward 80’), Brewster (Salvesen 60’); Szmodics (Bilbija 86’).

Unused substitutes: Vickers (GK); Eames, Blackett-Taylor; Meister.