Rams earn promotion

Pearson, signed from Celtic for £650,000 in January, scored the only goal after 61 minutes from a cross by substitute Giles Barnes who had only been on the pitch three minutes.

Albion were the better side in the opening 45 minutes but it was a different story in the second half with the Rams inspired by skipper Matt Oakley.

Albion made a purposeful start and Rams keeper Stephen Bywater was called into meaningful action after only 40 seconds to parry away a left-footed drive from Diomansy Kamara.

But Paul Peschisolido could have made a name for himself on his comeback after 10 minutes when he found himself with only Dean Kiely to beat after good play by Steve Howard only to curl a weak shot straight at the former Portsmouth keeper.

Jason Koumas began to see more of the ball and he carved out a shooting chance for himself but after cutting back inside but could not keep his effort down.

The nearest either side came to a goal in the opening half was when veteran Albion striker Kevin Phillips hit the bar from 15 yards out after Zoltan Gera had laid the ball into his path two minutes before the interval.

The second half began at a frantic pace with Kiely doing well to save at the feet of Peschisolido while Bywater held onto Koumas' first-time drive.

Derby boss Billy Davies brought on the less than fully fit but potential match-winner Barnes for Peschisolido after 58 minutes and he set up the opener for Pearson after 61 minutes.

Barnes supplied an inviting low ball across the box after beating the offside trap - and Pearson got in front of Paul McShane to slide the ball past Kiely.