Derby County entered the international break with an all-important win over Queens Park Rangers in front of the Pride Park crowd.
The Rams had endured a tough run of games, losing to Sheffield United and Sunderland away alongside a home defeat to Norwich City.
Paul Warne was looking to prevent a winless run from building and they entertained a QPR side who have struggled early on in the campaign.
Despite dominating in the first half, an excellent header from the ‘impressive’ Curtis Nelson in the second half and Marcus Harness’ first goal for Derby saw them collect their fourth win of the season.
Ebou Adams was key to the Rams win with an impressive midfield performance, as was maestro Kenzo Goudmijn, but neither player was named in the Championship Team of the Week.
Two Derby County stars named in Championship Team of the Week
Goudmijn had a real shout of being named in the team, with the Dutchman pulling the strings once more in midfield.
The 22-year-old drove Derby forward from a central position, as his incisive and accurate passing were crucial elements to clinching all three points.
That said, his involvement in the win didn’t perhaps earn the recognition it deserved, as two different Derby players were named in the Team of the Week.
Veteran left-back Craig Forsyth, who was solid as a rock in defence, joined teammate and goal-scoring defender Nelson in the team.
Nelson’s inclusion, in particular, was well deserved as the 31-year-old scored one of the best headers you’ll see all season but also kept a clean sheet.
The above individuals will receive the credit however, every player on the pitch put in a solid shift to earn the Rams a much-needed win ahead of the two-week break.
Derby County’s defensive record can keep them in the Championship
Derby’s biggest strength is their defence and it can help them survive in the Championship this season.
A settled centre-back duo of Nelson and Eiran Cashin has not only provided the platform for their promotion from League One but also given them early success in the second tier.
READ MORE: Derby County star Eiran Cashin’s journey from almost released to Premier League transfer interest
Remarkably, each of Derby’s four wins at home have all included clean sheets, with the Rams seeing off Bristol City, Middlesbrough, Cardiff City and QPR all without conceding.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 9 |  MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 14 |
| 10 |  Oxford UnitedOxford United | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 12 |
| 11 |  SwanseaSwansea | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 12 |
| 12 |  DerbyDerby | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 13 |  Hull CityHull City | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 12 |
| 14 |  PlymouthPlymouth | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 11 |
Derby have also looked solid at the back on their travels. Take the 4-2 defeat to Blackburn Rovers out of the equation and Warne’s men have lost by a one-goal margin in defeats to Watford and Sheffield United alongside a 2-0 loss to Sunderland.
While a quality attack can win you matches, throughout a season a strong defence holds the key to success, and anywhere from 21st upwards is regarded as a good campaign for Derby.