Max Bird remains on loan at Derby after being sold to Bristol City in January

Derby County secured their promotion to the Championship in style with a convincing victory over Carlisle United at Pride Park. The Rams needed just a draw to seal their return to the second tier after a two-year absence, but they went one step further with a 2-0 win.

Max Bird, who remained on loan at Derby after being sold to Bristol City in January, opened the scoring with a stunning strike from outside the box early in the game. James Collins then sealed the victory with a close-range finish in the second half.

The win marked Derby’s second promotion in 26 years and was a testament to their resilience and determination after facing financial difficulties that led to their relegation to League One in 2022. Owner David Clowes was praised by fans for saving the club from ruin, and the players showed their appreciation with a minute’s applause during the game.

Manager Paul Warne, who guided the team to promotion, has now achieved the feat four times in his career, with previous successes coming with Rotherham. The emotional pitch invasion at full-time highlighted the significance of the win for the club and its supporters.

Despite a slow start to the season, Derby’s resurgence in form saw them secure their place in the Championship ahead of rivals Bolton, who will now have to settle for a spot in the play-offs. The victory was a fitting end to a challenging but ultimately successful campaign for the Rams.