Derby County are looking to avoid an immediate return to League One
Derby County moved out of the relegation places and sent Hull City into the drop zone in their place with a dramatic and possibly season-defining victory at the MKM Stadium.
The East Midlands club had started the match in the bottom three after Luton Town's own thrilling late win against Coventry City saw the Hatters leapfrog them in the desperate scrap at the bottom of the table.
But the Rams' stay in 22nd spot lasted a little over two hours, with the victory delivered by the head of Nat Phillips sending them back above Luton on goal difference.
Instead, it will be Hull that go into their final match of the season against Portsmouth in the relegation places and one point from safety.
While Derby have taken the edge in the battle to avoid the drop, they remain alongside Hull as one of six sides that could be relegated next Saturday.
Stoke City, the side they host on a final day of high stakes, are another that have had their battle to avoid the drop taken all the way.
Derby's win and euphoric celebrations were made all the more poignant as it is 50 years to the day that the Rams were presented with the old First Division title for the second and last time in their history.
While the Rams are nowhere near the side with which Dave Mackay conquered English football, they are at least in with a chance of remaining in the second tier where they can continue to build after two seasons in League One.
Hull made a bright start to the game but suffered an early setback with Regan Slater forced off injured.
While neither goalkeeper was seriously tested in a tense and scrappy first half, Harrison Armstrong went close for Derby, while John Egan curled a chance over the bar.
Hull's Ivor Pandur clawed away a cross-turned-shot from Kane Wilson after the break, but it was the hosts that began to pile on the pressure.
They created a number of chances, the best of which Joe Gelhardt sent wide after beating Rams defender Matt Clarke to a through ball.
The Tigers' inability to take chose opportunities was punished by Derby, who snatched the winner completely against the run of play with Phillips nodding home from Craig Forsyth's cross with six minutes remaining.
'We just keep fighting' - reaction
Hull City head coach Ruben Selles told BBC Radio Humberside:
"The entire game changed when we conceded that goal and they managed the time at the end.
"It was that final pass or the finishing action which we lacked. I don't think they were at any moment threatening us, we limited them to two shots and paid the price for not defending that set-piece well.
"I don't think our final product was good enough but I think we invested enough to get something from the game today.
"I think the players were as focused as they could be. The reality was the game was about one goal and in one action we lost it."
Derby County head coach John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby:
"I'm just very proud of the efforts, the boys were outstanding again today. It was a fantastic result.
"Since I've been here this group of players has been written off time after time, but we just keep going and keep fighting.
"The Championship is relentless, you can't get carried away with the highs and the lows. It's an emotional time for everyone and you just have to keep cool and I thought the way the lads performed today was excellent."
