Barclays Premier League
Gareth Davis reports from the City of Manchester Stadium

A solitary goal shortly before half-time sent Derby to their first defeat of the new season.

Michael Johnson's neat finish after a good move involving himself and Elano edged City in front after a tight opening 45.

The Rams' best chance fell to Stephen Pearson, who saw his effort saved by Kasper Schmeichel, while Steve Howard also headed over when well-placed after the interval.

Once again Derby gave it everything they had and the way they are shaping up suggests they won't get turned over by many teams but over the 90 minutes the home side just shaded proceedings.

David Jones was introduced to the Derby line-up at the expense of striker Robert Earnshaw, who was on the bench, as Billy Davies opted for a packed midfield against Sven Goran Eriksson's City.

The Rams were also giving their new all-yellow kit its first airing against the sky-blue hosts.

And it was Derby who had the first opportunity with just two minutes gone as Andy Griffin swung a ball in from the left that Steve Howard just failed to reach from six yards.

As the ball bounced towards the far post Craig Fagan couldn't quite get there to add the finishing touch.

Then City looked threatening down the right through Elano, who had been released by Stephen Ireland, and the Brazilian's ball rolled across the six-yard box and to safety.

There was an open feeling to the early stages of the game, particularly with the home side's pace on the break through the likes of Martin Petrov and Elano.

And a loose pass on 21 minutes produced City's closest opportunity of the game.

The ball eventually found its way to young midfielder Michael Johnson, who shrugged off a couple of challenges and reached the edge of the box before firing just over the bar.

Derby didn't threaten too much in the first half-hour but on the other side of the coin they were also looking pretty comfortable, with Stephen Bywater largely untroubled.

But a good bit of football involving Stephen Pearson and Andy Griffin down the left saw the latter's cross cause chaos and as City only half-cleared, Johnson was pulled up for handball right on the edge of the box.

It was dangerously-placed, just a few yards to the right of centre, but Jones's shot was charged down by the home wall.

City broke quickly Ireland should have done better than to chip his cross straight into the hands of Bywater from the right of the box.

The home side then had strong penalty appeals rejected in the 34th minute as Tyrone Mears, enjoying a fine evening against his former club, misjudged a dipping cross and dived over the ball.

City's fans went up claiming Mears had handled but replays showed he managed to keep his arms away from danger.

And the Rams' best opportunity so far followed with eight minutes to go until half-time.

Oakley released Pearson, now in the centre of midfield with Jones out on the left, via a fine pass over the top of the City defence.

The ball wouldn't quite sit down for Pearson and although he got his shot away, Kasper Schmeichel blocked well and grabbed the rebound as it dropped.

But with two minutes remaining until the interval Derby were opened up as City took the lead.

Johnson started the move and exchanged passes with Elano before, with space opening up on the edge of the box, nonchalantly flicking the ball past Bywater with the outside of his right foot.

Petrov was the first player into the book, though more likely for dissent than the foul which gave Derby an instant opportunity to reply with a free-kick on the right-corner of the box.

But they didn't take that opportunity as Jones's cross was met firmly by the clearing head of Richard Dunne.

Gary Teale was on at half-time in place of Jones, and with the Scot on the right Fagan went further up alongside Howard.

The second period's first opportunity fell to the home side and it was down to the persistence of Verdan Corluka.

He chased a long ball down the right and managed to get there just before it went out for a goal-kick, where he pulled a cross back for Bianchi - but the Italian's near-post effort was straight at Bywater.

Derby responded with a brace of corners and from the second, Howard rose to head over from eight yards out.

Bywater's second save of the half came 12 minutes in, as Elano tricked and turned outside the box before shooting straight at the custodian from 20 yards.

At the other end Fagan out-muscled Micah Richards and played in a low ball that Schmeichel just managed to palm clear with Howard waiting to pounce.

Ireland then came inside and volleyed into Bywater's palms from 20 yards with the game starting to race from end to end.

Dietmar Hamann picked up a 65th-minute caution after a foul on the advancing Mears, though referee Lee Mason suggested it was more for persistent offending.

Derby's second change of the night came with 20 minutes to go as Robert Earnshaw took over from Fagan.

The home side's first substitution came on 74 as Petrov was replaced by Geovanni, who had come off the bench to goalscoring effect in Saturday's win at West Ham.

Geovanni's first touch was a wasted free-kick but his second, a run down the right, saw the ball ease just past both Ireland and Bianchi.

That was Bianchi's last action as he was withdrawn for Valeri Bojinov, who appeared in Serie A before his 16th birthday.

Jay McEveley then took over from Andy Todd and moved into a left-midfield spot.

Johnson picked up a caution for a cynical lunge on Mears, who made made some 50 yards with one of his darting runs upfield.

Howard was next into the book with five to go, dissent the offence after a frustrating evening and a foul given against him after what looked like a fair challenge between two players going hard for a high ball.

Derby pushed men forward at the death in a bid to salvage something from the game but it wasn't to be.

However, a single-goal defeat away to a side established in the top-flight and with immense spending power gives no cause for concern, particularly if the Rams continue to show the heart and graft of the first two matches.

MANCHESTER CITY: Schmeichel, Richards, Johnson, Ireland, Bianchi (Bojinov 78), Elano (Mpenza 89), Petrov (Geovanni 74), Corluka, Hamann, Dunne (C), Garrido.

SUBS: Hart (GK), Onuoha.

DERBY: Bywater, Jones (Teale HT), Oakley (C), Howard, Fagan (Earnshaw 70), Todd (McEveley 79), Griffin, Davis, Moore, Mears, Pearson.

SUBS: Price (GK), Leacock.

ATTENDANCE: 43,620.