Liam Manning predicted a quiet transfer window in terms of signings after seeing his improving Bristol City side move up to eighth in the Championship table just three points off the play-off zone.
The decisive moment came in the 19th minute when centre-back Luke McNally got his right foot to Scott Twine’s chipped free-kick into the box and volleyed home from close range.
It was enough to give City their third successive home win without conceding a goal and increase the sense of optimism at Ashton Gate at the start of the new year.
But fans hoping for money to be spent to boost a promotion bid look to be in for disappointment.
Manning said: “I would love to add, but I think it will be more a case of moving a few on. We have already sent Rob Atkinson out on loan to get confidence back in his body after a long injury lay-off.
“I don’t anticipate much in terms of signings. We have players capable of playing in numerous positions, which means we have adequate cover.
“Nobody in the dressing room is talking about the play-offs. We know success will only come if we continue to work hard and focus fully on each game.
“It has been an incredibly busy period, so great credit is due to the lads today for contesting every header and snapping into tackles. We defended really solidly, which was great after conceding an equaliser so late at Plymouth in midweek.
“When Derby loaded up our box for a late free-kick on the halfway line, I felt the same nerves as all our supporters and I’ve lost my voice a bit through screaming instructions in an effort to affect that situation.
“But we have a great group of lads and the response to the late setback at Plymouth was fantastic. Luke McNally conceded a soft late free-kick there and today he has come up with the winning goal.”
Derby were booed off by their travelling fans and boss Paul Warne said: “I understand their frustration. It was a disappointing performance.
“I thought both sides looked a bit jaded after an incredibly tough sequence of fixtures over a very short period of time.
“I’m not making excuses, but we have injuries and illness in the camp, which doesn’t help at such a hectic time of year. We even had a player drop out of this game during the warm-up.
“It wouldn’t be right to say we feel sorry for ourselves, but we just didn’t seem able to summon up sufficient energy.
“We didn’t work their goalkeeper enough. To win away from home in the Championship you have to get the basics right.
“You have to defend resolutely, out-run the opposition, out-tackle them and take your opportunities. Today we were lacking in all of those.
“Bristol City were really good and defended very well. But it was an horrendous goal to succeed when we are generally good at protecting our goal from set-pieces.
“You can’t afford to give any home team in this league a leg-up like that.”
