IT HAS been a tough few weeks for Derby County as they suffered five straight defeats in the Championship.

Chris Porter

But the bad run which threatened to drop them into the bottom half of the division came to an end on Saturday with victory at crisis club Preston North End.

Chris Porter grabbed two welcome second half goals to fire the Rams to a 2-1 win, with Callum Davidson’s injury time penalty proving nothing more than a consolation.

Derby boss Nigel Clough was fuming after Wednesday’s dismal 5-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest, questioning the desire of his defence to keep the ball out of the net.

In response he made five changes to his line-up and was rewarded with a gutsy performance at Deepdale against a Preston side in disarray after sacking manager Darren Ferguson.

He axed Dean Leacock from his back four and rested Alberto Bueno and Tomasz Cywka, with the latter badly needing to come out of the firing line after a big dip in his performances in recent weeks.

With Dean Moxey suspended and Luke Moore back at West Bromwich Albion after his loan spell — which will not be extended — it was a new-look Rams side.

In came Gareth Roberts at left-back, the returning Robbie Savage, Stephen Pearson and Porter as well as a surprise start for youngster Conor Doyle.

And no-one let the manager down as Derby grabbed their fourth away win of the campaign to stay in 12th place ahead of today’s home clash with Millwall, who are unbeaten in seven matches.

The win should go some way to restoring confidence in the Rams as they seek a top-half finish this season.

Although Preston showed seven changes from the side which lost 3-1 at home to Middlesbrough — with key loan players recalled — it was still a solid performance from Derby.

After a scrappy start it was Preston who had the first clear-cut chance. John Brayford’s poor header fell to Keith Treacy but as the Irish forward turned and shot Stephen Bywater was on-hand to block his effort. Chris Brown’s follow-up was then cleared.

Following a period in which both sides looked exactly what they are — short of form — Doyle volleyed over from 16 yards on 19 minutes.

Kris Commons, who grew in authority as the game went on, turned Barry Nicholson inside-out on the edge of the area just after the half-hour but his fizzing shot flew just over.

On 34 minutes, Doyle should have given Derby the lead. Wayne Brown’s dreadful clearance gave the American youngster possession 40 yards out but as he ran through on keeper Andy Lonergan, he never looked like scoring and his low effort was saved. And if Doyle had looked up, he had options in the box to provide an easy chance.

After the break, Pearson — having his best game of the season — started to cause Preston real problems down the left.

Two minutes in, he got the ball from Commons and stormed down the wing before hitting a low cross back to his fellow Scottish international, but Commons could only volley just over.

On 56 minutes, Pearson was again involved, with his teasing cross dropping to Roberts, who hit a stinging shot that was just saved by Lonergan.