What happened next?

The Rams kept faith with Paul Jewell, who had led Bradford and Wigan to promotion from the second tier, despite his minimal impact having taken over from Davies the previous November.

After a slow start to the season, three wins and a draw from five league games in October were enough for Jewell to be nominated for the Championship manager of the month award, but that was as good as it got for both team and boss that season.

Jewell resigned on 28 December after a 1-0 home defeat by Ipswich left them five points above the second-tier relegation zone.

Nigel Clough, son of legendary Derby and Nottingham Forest boss Brian, took over the following month and steered them to survival with an 18th-placed finish.

Oddly, despite their league struggles, they made the semi-finals of the League Cup and victories over Stoke and Manchester United (who they lost to over two legs in the semis) meant they actually beat more Premier League teams that season than they had in the previous campaign when they had been a top-flight side.

Football, hey?