Derby County returned to winning ways in Sky Bet League One thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Cheltenham Town on Saturday.
Liam Sercombe gave the visitors the lead early in the second half but goals from midfielder Max Bird on the hour and leading goalscorer James Collins inside the final ten minutes turned the game on its head and gave the Rams a vital three points.
The visitors had the first chance of the game and it was a big one within the opening two minutes. George Lloyd got in behind the Rams' defence down the left and cut back a lovely pass to Sercombe who fired straight at Josh Vickers from close range.
Rob Street was next to go close when he cut inside and bent a shot just wide of Vickers' far post as Cheltenham continued to have the better of the opening stages.
Striker Collins headed over with Derby's first chance of the game following a Nathaniel Mendez-Laing corner.
Defender Eiran Cashin then headed over, this time from a Conor Hourihane delivery, as Paul Warne's men continued to look for a real a foothold in the contest.
That was as good as it got in terms of chances for either side in a first half that lacked any real spark.
Like in the opening 45 minutes, the visitors started the second half the better side but this time were able to take the lead through Sercombe. Sean Long found the midfielder free in the area and his effort took a wicked deflection and trickled into the bottom corner beyond Vickers.
But the Rams were only behind for 10 minutes and found an equaliser through Bird. A free-kick routine was well worked between the Academy graduate and Mendez-Laing and it resulted in Bird striking a brilliant effort beyond Southwood.
The visitors themselves nearly immediately responded, again through Sercombe, but his spectacular attempt from outside the area was well saved by Vickers.
It was Derby that won it with 10 minutes to go and what a fantastic goal it was to do so. Kane Wilson played in Mendez-Laing down the right and the winger crossed beautifully for Collins who finished exquisitely on the volley from the penalty spot.
27,040 (712 Cheltenham Town supporters).
Derby County: Vickers (GK), Wilson, Hourihane (C) (63' Bradley), Cashin, Barkhuizen (63' Fornah), Bird, Collins, Mendez-Laing, Sibley, Blackett-Taylor (63' Thompson), Nelson.
Substitutes not used: Wildsmith (GK), Ward, Fapetu, Robinson.
Cheltenham Town: Southwood (GK), Long (C), Smith, Freestone, Sercombe (65' Harrop), Street (46' Keena), Ferry (84' Oyedeji), Lloyd, Bonds (65' Kinsella), Davies, Pett (77' Thompson).
Substitutes not used: Pardington (GK), Smith.
The Rams are back on the road a week today when they travel to London to take on Charlton Athletic in Sky Bet League One (3pm kick-off).
