Derby took the first step towards easing the pain of their play-off final defeat to QPR with a hard-earned victory over Rotherham.
The Millers were looking good value for a point until a quality finish from Republic of Ireland midfielder Jeff Hendrick floored them eight minutes from the end.
The visitors twice went close to equalising in stoppage time, but it was a harsh lesson in the importance of finishing following their promotion from League One.
Derby started brightly, and it needed a brilliant reaction save by Adam Collin in the 26th minute to keep out Johnny Russell’s close-range header.
The visitors had come back into the game but Derby started the second half strongly.
The Rams finally broke Rotherham’s resistance after 82 minutes when they broke up the right and Christie played the ball inside to Jeff Hendrick, who swept a first time shot into the top-left corner from just inside the area.
Rotherham felt Pringle had been fouled by Christie but they responded impressively and Paul Green had a header saved by Lee Grant in stoppage time before Kieran Agard’s shot was cleared off the line by Craig Forsyth.
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