Derby County returned to winning ways thanks to a 3-2 victory over Oxford United on Saturday afternoon.
The Rams fell behind early on but a brace from Louie Sibley and a second-half header from James Collins ensured Paul Warne's men picked up a vital three points on the road.
Backed by another sold-out away following, it was the Rams that notched the first shot of any anger within the opening five minutes. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing nicked the ball in the middle of the park and drove towards goal before unleashing a decent strike from 25-yards that was well held by Simon Eastwood.
It was the hosts that took the lead however through Sam Long. James Henry delivered a brilliant cross in from a deep free-kick and Long rose above everybody to head past Joe Wildsmith.
The Rams weren't shaken after conceding and responded within five minutes, levelling with a great team goal. Mendez-Laing did well to pick Conor Hourihane out down the left and the Irishman crossed for Sibley who directed his effort brilliantly past Simon Eastwood.
It had become quite an open game following the equaliser and the U's themselves probably should have gone back in front. Marcus Browne's cross deceived everyone and found Gatlin O'Donkor who just needed to tap home but he skewed his effort wide.
Eiran Cashin then nearly gave Paul Warne's men the lead with what would have been a goal of the season contender. The young Irishman capitalised on a loose pass from an Oxford player and drove forward before letting fly from around 30-yards and only a brilliant outstretched arm from Eastwood denied him.
The Rams did take the lead soon after and it was that man Sibley again with the goal. A free-kick wasn't cleared properly by the U's defence and it came out to the midfielder who turned his man and bent a beautiful effort into the top right corner.
The U's probably should have levelled things up in the early stages of the second-half when Smyth got through on goal but with the net gaping, he could only fire straight at Wildsmith.
And the hosts had another excellent chance to make it 2-2 two minutes later. A corner in wasn't dealt with and it dropped kindly to O'Donkor who looked destined to prod home but Wildsmith got down low to somehow deny the forward.
The Rams rode the wave of pressure and were able to punish the U's up the other end through James Collins.
Young Jake Rooney did brilliantly down the right and whipped a delicious ball in that Collins directed past Eastwood to send the travelling faithful into ecstasy.
Oxford weren't giving up without a fight and Tyler Goodrham nearly halved the deficit with a fine effort from the edge of the box but Wildsmith was again equal to it to put the ball behind.
The U's did half the deficit in final minute when substitute Kyle Joseph got in behind and finished well past Wildsmith.
Four added minutes were signalled and they had soon become four extremely nervy ones for the Rams.
Derby did however see the game out well to cement a vital three points on the road in Oxfordshire.
Attendance: 9,706 (1,479 Derby County fans)
Oxford United: Eastwood (GK), Long, Findlay, Moore (C), Brannigan, Browne (78' Wildschut), Bate (78' McGuane), Brown, Henry (45' Smyth), Anderson (66' Goodrham), O'Donkor (78' Joseph)
Substitutes not used: McGinty (GK), Fleming
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth, Hourihane (80' Bird), Cashin, Collins, Mendez-Laing (80' Roberts), Smith, Sibley (86' Dobbin), Springett (63' Barkhuizen), Davies (C), Rooney
Substitutes not used: McGee (GK), Thompson, White
Derby County return to Pride Park next Saturday when Fleetwood Town are the visitors to Derbyshire (3pm kick-off).
