By Peter Fraser Last updated: 30th March 2008
Bouazza celebrates his deflected strike
The inevitable became reality at Pride Park on Saturday as a 2-2 draw with Fulham condemned Derby to Premier League relegation.
Derby, who earned Championship play-off promotion last season, went into the contest well aware that they were facing the drop if they failed to beat Fulham and Birmingham recorded three points against Manchester City at St Andrews.
But as Birmingham earned victory on the west side of the Midlands, Derby could not perform a similar feat in the east as honours were left even in a thrilling contest.
The Rams took a 10th minute lead when Emanuel Villa deflected in a wayward effort from Dean Leacock, but Fulham hit back as Diomansy Kamara took advantage of some slack Derby defending to head in a 24th minute Simon Davies cross.
Paul Jewell's Derby side then threw everything they could at Kasey Keller in the Fulham goal in the second half, but they found themselves behind on 78 minutes as the balance of fortune was restored as Leacock diverted a Hameur Bouazza shot into his own goal.
Derby, though, then gave themselves hope as Villa headed in his second with 10 minutes to go from a Mile Sterjovski cross, but the required winner was not forthcoming to leave the Rams heading for an immediate return to the second tier of English football.
The visitors, still with survival hopes very much intact, started best with the busy Jimmy Bullard whizzing the first of many free-kicks over Roy Carroll's bar.
The Rams had their first chance in the eighth minute when Andy Todd whipped in a cross from deep near the right by-line, but Villa was bustled out of a shooting chance by Aaron Hughes in the box.
Unlikely lead
It took the home side only 10 minutes to grab an unlikely lead and there was a heavy dose of fortune about it as Leacock's harmless drive struck Villa and wrong-footed Kasey Keller in the Fulham goal.
Bullard responded by directing another dangerous-looking free-kick over the bar as the visitors' early dominance threatened to wane.
Robbie Savage scrambled a half-chance straight at Keller in the box and in the 23rd minute David Jones screwed a wonderful long-range effort which was heading for the top corner until the keeper saved well.
But just as the Rams looked to have got on top, Fulham responded with a 24th-minute equaliser after a quick-fire counter-attack.
Davies' cross from the right was met with a fine glancing header by Kamara which gave Carroll no chance.
A bright game which was far surpassing its billing continued when Miller burst through only to be denied by Keller diving at his feet, and then there was a loud penalty appeal after a shot by Sterjovski appeared to strike the hand of Brede Hangeland.
Bullard came close seven minutes into the second half after Hossam Ghaly gave away a free-kick in a dangerous area 25 yards out, but the former Wigan man lashed his set-piece against the bar.
And the Rams almost stole back the lead moments later when Keller raced rashly from his goal and mis-kicked on the right edge of the box, allowing Rob Earnshaw a free shot which flashed across the face of the unguarded goal.
The Rams began to press with Keller parrying a long-range Sterjovski effort just over his bar, and Eddie Lewis landing a dangerous cross from the left by-line on the roof of the net.
Fulham came close in the 65th minute when Bullard flung in another threatening free-kick from the left, and Paul Stalteri stooped on the edge of the six-yard box to send his low header inches wide of Carroll's right-hand post.
Spurned chance
But Savage spurned the simplest chance of the lot in the 70th minute after finding himself in the clear on the edge of the six-yard box, only to trundle the tamest of shots straight at Keller.
Fulham finally looked to have ended their long winless streak on their travels with their bizarre second goal in the 77th minute.
Kamara raced clear and saw his shot superbly parried by Carroll, but Bouazza's long-range follow-up struck the luckless Leacock and looped over the keeper and into the net.
Amazingly, before the visitors had stopped celebrating the Rams hit back.
Two minutes later Sterjovski crossed from deep on the right and Villa rose brilliantly to nod his second past Keller.
Derby County Team Statistics Fulham 2 Goals 2 1 1st Half Goals 1 9 Shots on Target 7 6 Shots off Target 5 7 Blocked Shots 1 4 Corners 5 18 Fouls 17 2 Offsides 5 3 Yellow Cards 4 0 Red Cards 0 67.8 Passing Success 74.7 21 Tackles 9 76.2 Tackles Success 88.9 55.3 Possession 44.7 54.4 Territorial Advantage 45.6
The 32nd round of the English Premiership took place this past weekend with both the battles for the league title and the battle against relegation still raging on. The fate of one team has been sealed for the rest of the season as Derby County has been mathematically guaranteed relegation, setting a new league record for earliest relegation. At the top of the table, nothing changed this week as Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool all won.