On 23 February 1921, Division One leaders Burnley visited the Baseball Ground on a run of 24 consecutive league games without defeat. Derby were bottom of the table with only two league wins all season: a 3-0 home win against Manchester City in October, and a 2-1 win at home to Huddersfield on New Year’s Day.

Just 11 days earlier Derby had visited Turf Moor and were on the end of a 2-1 reverse, Bill Paterson scoring for the Rams. The programme notes claim that Burnley were ‘a very lucky side to get the odd goal in their favour at Turf Moor’ which was ‘another example of the atrocious luck that the “Rams” have experienced during the season.’

In the Notes and News section of the official programme, Derby’s circumstances are described as ‘not entirely hopeless, but it is such as to cause grave anxieties. The record is worse than it was last season at this time, but that great eleventh hour revival has not been forgotten. Can it be done again? We all hope so, for if the “Rams” descended there will be no First Division club between Sheffield and Birmingham’.

As alluded to, Derby found themselves in a similar predicament the previous season – the first since the end of World War 1 – but managed to pull clear of the relegation places by winning four out of their last five games.

Despite the quality of their opponents, Derby took a point from the game in a 0-0 draw. However, the Derby Daily Telegraph match report was critical of the Rams’ performance, writing: ‘For a second time Derby County had a chance of beating the League leaders and failed, but on the Baseball Ground on Wednesday it was their shortcomings, and not ill-luck as at Burnley, which kept their hands off the full spoils.’

‘Far from over-awed by a side that had played 24 League matches without defeat, the Derby men bustled in and had slightly the better of the opening half, but their work was not of the polished kind of their opponents, though it lacked nothing in energy. Later the exchanges were more in Burnley’s favour without really dangerous situations arising. The visitors had two glorious chances, Douglas and Nesbitt wasting them. Kidd had a chance in goal through the unfitness of both Lawrence and Maskry, and he did not make one mistake. Atkin and Ritchie gave a masterly display, and the latter’s return to the rear division was a source of delight to the crowd, while the halves also pleased with a wholehearted though somewhat unpolished exhibition.’

‘Wightman was the pick of the lines, his direct methods proving very effective against the methodical Burnley advances. But the forwards were disappointing, for they worked individually, were selfish and much too prone to attempt tricky footwork. Paterson received only one really good pass all afternoon. Thornewell was by no means as fast as usual in getting off the mark, and Moore’s centres did not function. Thompson was the weakest in the line. He is not showing the improvement expected of him.’

Derby manager Jimmy Methven was not able to field a settled side all season. 32 players were used in league games which equalled the record set in 1905/1906 and this was not broken until 2001/2002. The situation was so serious that 40-year old goalkeeper Harry Maskrey, who left Derby for Bradford City in 1909, played five games after joining from British Cellulose in the midweek Works League.

Although Derby won their next game at Sheffield United 1-0, the Rams experienced victory only twice more to finish the season in 23^rd place above Bradford Park Avenue and were relegated to Division Two. Burnley went on to win Division One, finishing five points ahead of Manchester City.