Robbie Savage stopped to give two supporters a lift to Pride Park on Saturday and was rewarded by being reminded of his station in life when the daughter turned to her father on alighting at the ground and asked if he knew the identity of their driver. Anonymity beckons for Derby County as they prepare to return to the Coca-Cola Championship, but Dean Whitehead believes that they can follow Sunderland’s example and come back stronger.

The Sunderland captain was part of the team relegated with the record-low points tally (15) two years ago that Derby (ten) are struggling to surpass. Whitehead maintains that Sunderland should be safe this time — “We’ll be fine, but we want to do it sooner rather than later,” he said — and can see parallels in Derby’s situation.

While Sunderland ended their run of ten successive away defeats, a joint club record, Derby have not won for 22 league matches and this was their first clean sheet since October 20. Players who looked, in the Championship, capable of making the step up cannot kick the ball straight, so badly has confidence been smashed. “It’s difficult when you are getting beat every week and you’re getting criticism from the terraces, but you have to be mentally strong,” Whitehead said. “Derby have got some good players and I’m sure they’ll be fine next year.”

Sunderland should have won, Daryl Murphy swerving a shot against a post in the fourth minute and Michael Chopra erroneously being judged offside as he put the ball in the net in the 35th minute. But Derby rallied after the interval when Alan Stubbs, deputising for the injured Savage as captain, and Stephen Pearson showed that they have the heart to lead next season’s promotion bid.

Eyes on fire, Roy Keane burnt a metaphorical hole in the inquisitor who persisted in asking whether he was right to put Liam Miller on the transfer list for his poor punctuality. Players follow a manager’s lead and the sanction met with approval. “Discipline’s a big part of football,” Whitehead said. “Being on time and making sure you don’t let your team-mates down shows respect.”

The Derby players will have to earn theirs all over again next season.

Derby County (4-4-2): R Carroll 6 – M Edworthy 4, D Moore 4, A Stubbs 7, J McEveley 2 – M Sterjovski 5 (sub: C Fagan, 67min 5), D Jones 5 (sub: H Ghaly 57 6), S Pearson 7, E Lewis 5 – K Miller 6, E Villa 5 (sub: R Earnshaw, 80). Substitutes not used: L Price, B Feilhaber. Booked: Miller, McEveley, Lewis, Moore, Villa. Next: Chelsea (a).

Sunderland (4-4-2): C Gordon 6 – P Bardsley 5, N Nosworthy 6, J Evans 6, D Higginbotham 5 – M Chopra 6, D Whitehead 7, A Reid 6 (sub: G Leadbitter 5, 66), K Richardson 4 – D Murphy 6 (sub: A Stokes, 80), K Jones 6. Substitutes not used: M Fulop, P McShane, R Prica. Booked: Jones. Next: Everton (h).