Derby County1 Manchester City 1Derby County's change of ownership may have brought them a change of fortune.

In the presence of the of the men who run GSE, the American sports and entertainment company which completed a €67 million takeover on the club on Monday, the Rams brought to an end a run of seven straight defeats in front of their own supporters, a deflected shot, Manchester City's extraordinary profligacy in front of goal, and their own rediscovered appetite for the fray winning them only their eighth point of the season.

After looking like being overrun early on, Derby suddenly proved they were not entirely toothless when Robert Earnshaw, having already volleyed athletically over the bar, turned neatly in the penalty area and curled a shot against the outside of Hart's left-hand post.

Encouraged, Derby began to look something like a competitive Premier League team, coming forward with real purpose. They were still almost comically vulnerable at the back - only two desperate blocks by Davis prevented Ireland finishing Petrov's cross - but Hossam Ghaly and, to a lesser degree, Robbie Savage, began making their presence felt in midfield.

The momentum established before the break paid off seconds after the restart. Miller's shot after Ghaly was tackled looked to be going wide when it struck Sun Ji Hai, wrong-footing Hart.

With City in danger of losing their heads in the feverish atmosphere, Sven Goran Eriksson sent on Elano, and the Brazilian had an immediate impact. His pass freed Petrov on the left, and the low cross was bundled over the line by Daniel Sturridge.

DERBY: Price, Leacock, Moore, Davis (Todd 69), Edworthy, Fagan, Savage, Ghaly, Pearson (Barnes 83), Earnshaw (Villa 88), Miller. Subs Not Used: Hinchliffe, Robert. Booked: Ghaly. Goals: Jihai 47 og.

MAN CITY: Hart, Jihai, Dunne, Corluka, Ball, Etuhu (Elano 55), Ireland, Gelson, Petrov, Vassell (Mpenza 79), Sturridge (Geovanni 72). Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Hamann. Booked: Corluka. Goals: Sturridge 63.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).