Ravanelli dazzles to silence the sceptics

Derby County 2 Blackburn Rovers 1

The gesture was all too familiar. Fabrizio Ravanelli, his shirt pulled over his head, wheeling away in celebration having brilliantly opened his account for Derby. The sometimes ugly public negotiations, rumours and half-truths which preceded his acquisition may have done little to endear him to England's sceptical football public but, after a dazzling debut, any concerns about his suitability for a return to the Premiership will have been discarded by the paying customers at Pride Park .

Ravanelli offered a natural focus for Derby and his endeavours served as an inspiration to his team-mates. While he tired in the second period, the Italian's perseverance was ultimately the difference between the sides. The goal, in first-half injury-time, was a magnificently executed left-footed free-kick from the edge of the box, but equally impressive was his willingness to support in defence, a role he appeared to relish when Blackburn, who employed a three-pronged strike-force for the closing period, looked certain to equalise.

Jim Smith, the Derby manager, said: "He worked hard and showed that he is a team man ­ I couldn't have asked for more on his debut." Blackburn, back in the top flight after two seasons, had been sharper in the early exchanges and Keith Gillespie might have scored within 20 seconds, but his header from a Damien Duff cross was parried by the Derby goalkeeper Mart Poom. Having weathered the early battering, the Rams secured their previously permeable midfield and began to bring their star signing into play.

Graeme Souness, the Blackburn manager, questioned the validity of the opening goal. "David Dunn was fouled by Ravanelli in the build-up to their free-kick and within seconds we were a goal down. I believe in luck evening itself out over a season, but David could be out for several weeks." That could prove more costly in the long-term than the loss of yesterday's points as Dunn, an England international at Under-21 level, was at the heart of Blackburn's best work.

If the "White Feather" was fluttering then Souness's Italian striker, Corrado Grabbi from the Serie B side Ternana, was faltering. To the obvious frustration of some of his team-mates, Grabbi struggled to keep pace with the demands of the English game and was finally replaced by Nathan Blake, with Marcus Bent also introduced to support Matt Jansen in Blackburn's forward line.

But Smith's change ­ Georgi Kinkladze for Lee Morris ­ produced an immediate dividend. Kinkladze, with his first touch, surged through the middle to find Craig Burley, who gave Malcolm Christie the opportunity for a clean, low finish.

Blackburn's response was swift and, with a little luck, might have proved decisive. Having forced a pair of half-chances, they were gifted a goal when an unmarked Blake swivelled on the edge of the box to strike home with venom. Further opportunities followed but Jansen saw his effort ruled out for offside and Craig Short, supplementing the attack, stumbled as he looked certain to score.

Derby County 2

Ravanelli 45, Christie 65

Blackburn Rovers 1

Blake 73

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 28,236