Derby County moved back into the Sky Bet League One play-off places thanks to a 1-0 victory over Burton Albion on Saturday afternoon.
A David McGoldrick penalty midway through the second-half was enough to cement all three points and put a top six spot back in the Rams' hands with two games to go.
It was a slow start to the game but the Brewers were the ones that looked more likely and nearly took the lead with the first real chance on 10 minutes.
Adedeji Oshilaja was slipped in down the left and he hit it first time from a tight angle but it cannoned back off the post and fortunately for Derby out towards safety.
That attempt did appear to spark a bit of life into the Rams and they started posing far more threat, David McGoldrick and Louie Sibley both having half-chances in the immediate aftermath.
Joe Wildsmith was at full stretch to tip Joe Powell's effort around the post for the corner as the visitors continued to show their threat.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was inches away from connecting with a low cross from Sibley and McGoldrick had a goal-bound effort blocked brilliantly by a defender as it looked destined for the back of the net.
Max Bird then picked out Sibley from the left and the latter did well to get on the end of it but his effort deflected kindly into the arms of Craig Macgillivray as the half drew to a close.
The second period started in slow fashion similar to the first but this time it was the Rams that had the initial chance to break the deadlock as we approached the hour mark.
A lovely counter-attack saw Sibley release Haydon Roberts down the left. Roberts worked his way into the box before firing an effort on goal which was initially saved and then deflected just over the bar for a corner.
Paul Warne's men were given a golden opportunity to take the lead soon after when Bird was brought down by Powell in the area.
McGoldrick stepped up to do the honours and sent Macgillivray the wrong way to net his 22nd league goal of the campaign.
The Rams kept pushing following the opener and that man McGoldrick nearly had his second when he wriggled his way through a number of Brewers defenders but he could only find the arms of the visiting keeper with what ended up a tame effort.
It then took an absolutely superb save from MacGillivray to stop Didzy doubling his tally. Mendez-Laing did well down the left and provided a pinpoint cross for the striker who hit a first time volley towards goal that was expertly tipped over by the Burton stopper.
John Brayford headed over a rare chance for the visitors which came as a warning for the Rams that the game was not yet won.
McGoldrick was involved in everything and had yet another effort well saved by MacGillivray who was in excellent form for the visitors.
Substitute Tom Barkhuizen had a chance to seal it in the final minute of stoppage time when he broke away following a Burton corner but he put his effort just inches wide.
It mattered not though as the full-time whistle was blown and the Rams secured a massive three points on home turf.
Attendance: 29,304 (2,101 Burton Albion supporters)
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth, Hourihane, Cashin, Bird (90' White), McGoldrick (90' Collins), Mendez-Laing (83' Smith), Roberts, Sibley (78' Barkhuizen), Davies (C), Knight
Substitutes not used: McGee (GK), Dobbin, Rooney
Burton Albion: MacGillivray (GK), Brayford (C), Oshilaja (80' Walker), Hughes, Powell, Taylor, Moon, Shaughnessy, Helm, Carayol (71' Smith), Ashworth (79' Winnall)
Substitutes not used: Garratt (GK), Kirk, Ahadme, Latty-Fairweather
The Rams return home for the final time of the regular 2022/23 Sky Bet League One campaign next Saturday when they take on Portsmouth (3pm kick-off).
