DERBY County's final away game of the season ended in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bristol City at Ashton Gate this afternoon.

Two goals from Nicky Maynard, one in each half, put City two up before Rams midfielder Stephen Pearson reduced the deficit with his first goal of the campaign.

It was the Rams' first defeat in five matches on the road and they remain one point behind last season's total of 54 with a game to play.

Goalkeeper Stephen Bywater's rib injury handed Saul Deeney his first start for Derby and Pearson returned to the side after his two-match suspension.

He replaced David Martin on the left and Tomasz Cywka, on loan from Wigan, continued up front but the Rams lost Paul Green when he pulled a muscle in the warm up. Gilles Sunu came in for him on the right and Michael Tonge switched to central midfield.

Jay McEveley made his 100th appearance for the club and Paul Connolly was among the substitutes after returning from his loan spell at Sheffield United.

Former Rams centre-half Lewin Nyatanga lined up for City who had lost just one of their previous seven games. Gary Sawyer, on loan from Plymouth Argyle, made his debut.

Derby kicked off defending the goal behind which their 1,800 or so supporters were grouped. Many wore fancy dress and were in party mood but they saw their team fall behind after just three minutes.

Sawyer whipped a deep centre to the back post where Marvin Elliott headed back across goal and Maynard turned the ball in from close range.

Deeney's first touch of note was to pick the ball out of the net and it had been a sluggish start by the Rams.

Derby started to settle and Chris Porter tested Dean Gerken from distance after Robbie Savage had closed down Louis Carey, but the home side remained a threat going forward.

Tonge hooked the ball clear after Carey's header looped towards the back post and Jamal Campbell-Ryce's drive fizzed wide.

Pearson wasted a good chance after he was set up by Porter and the only time Gerken was stretched first half was two minutes before break when he pushed away a 25-yarder from Nicky Hunt.

Cywka tried to make things happen for the Rams and he had their first effort of the second half.

The Polish under-21 international was involved early in the move and when the ball came back to him from Pearson his shot drifted narrowly wide.

Russell Anderson limped off with a hamstring injury before Porter missed a glorious chance to equalise on the hour.

Tonge slid a beautifully-weighted pass out to Pearson on the over-lap and he picked out Porter who, unmarked 12 yards out, somehow put the ball wide.

There was a half chance for Cywka after Gerken left his goal and dropped the ball, and the Rams worked some promising positions without delivering the final pass or cross.

Little had been seen of City second half but Maynard lifted the ball over at the end of a counter-attack and then won the penalty from which he put the Robins two up.

The ball broke to Maynard in the area and he was brought down by Hunt. The striker picked himself up and sent Deeney the wrong way from the spot to notch his 20th goal of the season.

Pearson pulled one back for Derby four minutes from the end of normal time.

Martin found Cywka in the box and he laid the ball back for Pearson whose low shot from 15 yards found the net despite Gerken getting a hand to it.

Cywka dragged a shot wide a minute later as Rams went in search of a second but at the other end, Deeney saved from Maynard.

BRISTOL CITY: Gerken; Orr, Carey, Nyatanga, Sawyer; Elliott, Hartley (Johnson, 70), Skuse, Campbell-Ryce (Sproule, 61); Maynard, Haynes (Agyemang, 43).

Other subs: Henderson (gk), Clarkson, Akinde, Ribeiro.

DERBY COUNTY: Deeney; Hunt, Barker, Anderson (P Connolly, 53), McEveley; Sunu, Tonge, Savage, Pearson; Cywka, Porter (Martin, 73).

Other subs: Atkins (gk), Moxey, Pringle.

Referee: C Pawson (South Yorkshire)

Attendance: 15,835 (away fans 1,757)