Town jumped out of the relegation zone with a deserved 3-1 at Derby. After a lacklustre first half goals from Marcus Bent and Sixto Peralta put the Blues two goals up before Malcolm Christie game the Rams hope. Martijn Reuser's first League goal of the season sealed it with three minutes left on the clock.

With Jim Magilton missing through injury Sixto Peralta came into the starting line-up. Elsewhere the personnel was the same as against Spurs last week. The real surprise was Town's formation. Rather than playing the usual 4-4-2 George Burley decided to play the 4-5-1/4-3-3 line-up used on a number of previous occasions, most successfully at Southampton last season. Marcus Bent and Martijn Reuser played roles wide on either flank between Marcus Stewart up front and a midfield central three of Matt Holland, Jermaine Wright and Sixto Peralta.

Town started very brightly and Marcus Bent almost played in Chris Makin in the first minute. A Derby foot just got in to put the ball out for a throw. Derby's first opportunity came in the seventh minute Valakari hit a shot well wide after John McGreal had half cleared.

Sixto Peralta hit a shot wide a minute later after a Martijn Reuser was cleared to him. His shot flew just past Oakes's post.

Malcolm Christie put in a dangerous cross on eight minutes after Jermaine Wright had lost possession on halfway. Chris Makin headed the ball out with Ravanelli and others lurking.

Paul Durkin had started to annoy Town fans from early on and irked them all the more when he booked Hermann Hreidarsson in the 13th minute. He had fouled Christie, with whom he was enjoying a fine physical battle, inside the centre circle.

On 18 Martijn Reuser won the ball halfway inside the Derby half, took the ball forward and towards the right flank and hit a shot which went high and wide. Marcus Stewart amongst others pointed out that they were available in the middle.

Sixto Peralta again went by the post, this time with his head, a minute or so later from a Hermann Hreidarsson cross.

For Derby chances were even further and few between, and on 25 Christie hit a shot well over from long distance. Three minutes later Valakari hit a shot which Marshall had little trouble with.

In the 36th minute Martijn Reuser had the chance of the half. Chris Makin made himself space on the right and crossed deep towards Stewart and the Dutchman. Stewart clearly heard a call and left it to Reuser who sent his header just over the bar from just a few yards out. It was as good a chance as Town or Derby had got up to then and continued the Dutchman's frustration in front of goal.

However, Town were to get an even better opportunity three minutes later. Chris Makin took a thrown-in on the right. He aimed for Marcus Bent's head, but he was clearly impeded by Carbonari, something seen by Paul Durkin who pointed to the spot. There was a rather half-hearted protest from the Derby team before Marcus Stewart stepped up to take the kick. The Town striker placed it low to Oakes's right, but the Derby keeper got his fingertips to it and pushed it on to the post and it was cleared. In truth it wasn't Stewart's best kick, lacking in power despite being reasonably placed. It was Stewart's second missed penalty of the season, the earlier one in the home leg of the UEFA Cup tie with Torpedo Moscow.

Town had not been at their best in the first half, but had had two opportunities to get themselves ahead. Derby had shown little threat, but were still more than in the game.

George Burley decided to scrap the unusual formation and go back to Town's more regular 4-4-2. Within two minutes of the half beginning this had paid off. Jermaine Wright won the ball inside the Town half, brought it forward a couple of paces before playing an inch perfect ball over the Derby defence into the path of Marcus Bent. Bent ran through, tried to take the ball by the defender, but he got a touch and took it wide towards the right. The Town striker reset himself before hitting a hard and low shot past Oakes and into the far corner of the net for his fifth Town goal.

Bent was as impressive as he had been against Spurs last week and was using his pace and height as well as running intelligently. On 49 he crossed towards Martijn Reuser but Oakes came out to collect before the Dutchman could get to it.

Play moved swiftly to the other end and Ravanelli and Venus challenged for a bouncing ball to the left of Andy Marshall's goal eight yards or so out. The Italian suddenly fell to the ground and Paul Durkin pointed immediately to the spot. Town fans and players were furious and Durkin faced a lengthy debate with a number of Town players. Deon Burton was the Derby player charged with taking the kick. He stepped up and hit a weak shot close to Andy Marshall's right and the Town keeper got across to push it away and in doing so gaining the biggest cheer of his Town career so far.

With Town supporters still taking about what appeared to be a dive from Ravanelli referee Durkin did more to annoy Town supporters when he penalised Martijn Reuser for diving when he had clearly been body-checked by Carbonari on halfway. Reuser was not impressed and neither were the Town fans.

On 53 Marcus Bent played a lovely ball down the right wing for Peralta. The Argentinian's cross was far too deep, but Hreidarsson managed to get another ball in from the other side to Marcus Bent who hit a volley over the bar from a tight angle.

The Town goal came under rare threat on 58 when a Zavagno cross flashed across the Town area but was cleared.

On 66 Town went two-up. Marcus Bent ran on to a ball over the top, beating the Derby offside trap. He got to the byline and played the ball to Sixto Peralta who deftly picked his spot to Oakes's left to score his fourth Town goal.

Town were no well on top and there appeared to be no way back for Derby. Caretaker manager Billy McEwan threw on Giorgi Kinkladze, a man who has rarely impressed against Town.

Marcus Stewart tried a Bolton away play-off style effort on 73, but his shot just went over Oakes's bar. Two minutes later John McGreal, impressive in defence, tackled Ravanelli on the edge of the Town box and Venus cleared up.

Stewart was played in by Bent shortly afterwards, but Stewart's shot was weak and Oakes saved to his right. Stewart took another potshot which Oakes saved with little trouble.

All was looking very comfortable for Town until the 78th minute. Ravanelli turned John McGreal on the right of the Town penalty area and sent in a cross to the far post where Christie met it with his head to get the home side back in it. Their crowd tried to get behind them as they searched for a precious equaliser.

With ten minutes left Martijn Reuser hit a shot over from long distance when perhaps keeping the ball would have been a better option.

Two minutes later and Paul Durkin, who had had a poor game overall, was again in controversial action. Marcus Stewart got behind the Derby defence and appeared to be tripped by Higginbotham. It looked a clear penalty, but Durkin waved the protests away and the game continued. A minute later George Burley took Stewart off, replacing him with Richard Naylor.

Town finally sealed the game with three minutes left on the clock. Sixto Peralta made one of his trademark runs inside the Derby half, overcoming a Ravanelli challenge before laying the ball into the path of Martijn Reuser who steadied himself before hitting a low shot beyond Oakes to open his League account for the season. As Derby readied themselves to kick-off Reuser was replaced with Clapham, a change which George Burley had planned from before Reuser's goal.

In injury time Alun Armstrong replaced Marcus Bent who was applauded off after another fine performance. A couple of minutes later Paul Durkin blew his whistle and Town were up to fifth from bottom.

Another win and the climb up the table has begun in earnest. Town supporters were in as fine a mood as they had been for a while as we left the Derby supporters inside Pride Park protesting about their board.

Photo: Action Images

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