Derby head coach Steve McClaren believes patience brought its own reward as the Rams beat Bournemouth 2-0.
The result against the Cherries, who were reduced to 10 men after goalkeeper Lee Camp's red card, marked McClaren's first year in charge with a victory which took them up to fourth in the table..Bournemouth had worked hard at closing Derby down and had a good chance in the first half which Callum Wilson wasted when he scuffed a shot at Lee Grant from 12 yards but Camp's exit changed the game.
Referee Scott Mathieson dismissed Camp after the former Derby 'keeper clattered into Jamie Ward just outside the area, and awarded a free-kick even though the ball bounced into the net.
Chris Martin rattled a post from the free-kick but Derby got the goal they merited in the 81st minute when Will Hughes drilled a shot from 15 yards into the top left corner.
Bournemouth pushed for an equaliser but were caught on the break in the third minute of stoppage time when Johnny Russell whipped a cross in from the right and Martin pounced from close range.
"Bournemouth came and dropped deep and made it very compact but we kept our patience," McClaren said. "We said at half-time to keep our patience and concentration because we have players who will score and that's what happened.
"Some teams will press us and open the game up and some drop and make it difficult and when teams do that, we have to be patient and the crowd has to be patient.
"We score goals in the last 10 minutes of games and that's big advantage for us. Teams know that and we just have to keep knocking, knocking at the door and hopefully it will come down and it did tonight.