Fulham were dreaming of automatic promotion this time last week but now their hopes of a Premier League return are hanging by a thread after they lost the first leg of their play-off semi-final.
Cameron Jerome scored the only goal in the first half to settle a tight game at Pride Park and take Derby a step closer to Wembley.
It was another bad night for Fulham in the play-offs and the west Londoners have it all to do in the second leg at Craven Cottage on Monday.
Fulham had to get over the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion on the final day of the season last Sunday when they lost to Birmingham.
And now Slavisa Jokanovic’s side, who missed out in the play-offs last season, have suffered back-to-back defeats after they going 23 games unbeaten.
Fulham had over 70 per cent of the possession but Derby were well organised went ahead after 37 minutes when Jerome finished a well constructed move.
Tom Huddlstone clipped the ball out wide to Craig Forsyth on the left and he crossed to the back post where Jerome towered above Matt Targett and powered a header past Marcus Bettinelli.
Fulham went in behind but they came out with much more purpose after the interval and had two good chances in two minutes at the start of the second half.
First Kevin McDonald smacked the crossbar from range and then Stefan Johansen split the Derby defence with a brilliant ball and Floyd Ayite volleyed over.
Fulham pressed for an equaliser and Tom Cairney forced former England goalkeeper Scott Carson into a decent save.
But Fulham could not find a way through and it is advantage Derby going into the second leg.
