Krystian Bielik’s instinctive finish provided Wayne Rooney with a first win since becoming permanent Derby manager and some rare cheer for those involved at Pride Park.
Derby are a club currently clouded by uncertainty: players went unpaid last month and the takeover deal ‘near completion’ for two months has not happened.
However, things took a turn for the better on the field when they added the scalp of promotion-chasing Bournemouth to previous ones of the Championship’s top two Norwich and Swansea.
Bloodied in an aerial challenge with Jefferson Lerma earlier in the contest, Bielik emerged in un-numbered shirt to prod in the decisive goal just after the half-hour.