Former Derby County favourite Chris Powell thanked the Rams faithful for the reception they gave him but insisted: “It’s all about Huddersfield Town for me now.”
There were 955 travelling fans in a bumper 27,153 crowd at Pride Park, where Town went down 3-2, a first Championship defeat in eight, on Tuesday.
Derby fans savoured a first win in three league games as well as hailing Powell, who had two and a half years at what he terms “a fantastic club” between January 1996 and June 1998.
“It seems ages ago now,” smiled the 45-year-old, whose 12th match as Town manager is at Fulham on Saturday.
“I had a superb time at Derby, and I was here during a good part in their history, with winning promotion, moving to Pride Park and establishing the club in the Premier League.
“It was lovely the fans acknowledged me the way they did, but I’d like to thank our supporters as well, because they have been brilliant.
“Myself and the players will endeavour to give them another good run, because we have all witnessed the feel good factor which has been created.
“We have got used to winning, and if not, taking something from matches, so it’s hugely disappointing to have lost one.
“Realistically, there will always be defeats along the way, but the players were hurting in that dressing room, and I believe there will be a response on Saturday.
“Coming to a place like Derby, you need a decent start, and we didn’t get that, but we dusted ourselves down and got back into the game with a good equaliser.
“Conceding a second goal just before half-time was a setback, but we still created chances in the second half, even if our second goal came with the last touch.
“There were elements of our performance I was pleased and some I wasn’t so happy about, but you learn a lot from games like Tuesday’s.”
