Barclays Premier League
Gareth Davis reports from Pride Park Stadium

Daniel Sturridge denied Derby a first home win since September with a close-range finish that earned City a 1-1 draw when on another night all three points could have remained at Pride Park.

The Rams were improved greatly on their performance against Preston and struck the woodwork in the first half through Robert Earnshaw's smart turn and shot.

They had fortune seconds after half-time as Kenny Miller's drive was deflected in by Sun Jihai, and they looked comfortable until Sturridge's leveller.

The wait for a win goes on but there was a lot to acclaim against a side harbouring hopes of European football.

Robert Earnshaw was called in for his first Derby County start since August as the Rams' new era of American ownership got underway against Manchester City.

The Welsh international - who scored his first goal for the club against Preston - was joined in returning to the starting line-up by Craig Fagan, Dean Leacock and Darren Moore.

City named 18-year-old Daniel Sturridge - nephew of former Rams star Dean - for his first Premier League start.

The first opportunity of the game went City's way however and it was one of Derby's making.

Claude Davis's back-pass was woefully short on three minutes and sent Darius Vassell scampering clear, but the former England man pulled his shot badly wide from the edge of the box.

And on five minutes they were close again as Vedran Corluka rose to meet Martin Petrov's left-wing corner only for Lewis Price to tip the Croatian's header over - though referee Steve Bennett gave a goal-kick.

Derby's first shot followed on 12, skipper Robbie Savage's effort blocked on the edge of the box, seconds after the Rams had a penalty appeal rejected when Gelson Fernandes collided with Fagan.

And the Rams had an escape soon afterwards. Fernandes fired a superb cross-field ball out to Petrov, who didn't even take a touch before volleying an even better delivery into the path of Vassell.

But City's number 12 couldn't quite get enough on the ball as Moore and Price closed him down on the edge of the six-yard box.

Joe Hart's hands were warmed for the first time on 20 as, after skipper Richard Dunne spooned Fagan's cross up into the air, Kenny Miller swivelled and hit a firm volley from 14 yards.

Back came City three minutes later through Stephen Ireland, who strode into the box but his low ball was just ahead of Vassell and Petrov - both of whom appeared more on their heels than toes.

Price received lengthy treatment and had blood coming from a head wound after an accidental collision with Kelvin Etuhu, who was chasing a through-pass.

The Welsh international was strapped up but looked decidedly groggy as he rose from a good three minutes on the floor.

Derby poured forward from the restart and Leacock showed skill befitting his immediate opponent as he dummied his way past Petrov before crossing for Earnshaw to bang an overhead kick over the bar.

Earnshaw kept threatening on 34 as he seized upon Corluka's half-clearance and curled over the bar from 25 yards.

He was looking exceptionally sharp and couldn't have come closer to opening his Premier League accocunt seconds later.

Fagan drove forward through the middle and left the ball for his Welsh colleague, who turned quickly on the edge of the box and cracked in a left-footer that beat Hart all ends up but rebounded away off the post.

Derby were almost caught by yet another delicious Petrov cross as Claude Davis met his delivery, though it was only a half-clearance - but the Jamaican was back up quickly to block well as Ireland looked set to finish it off.

But the Rams were soon back moving in the right direction again and were in the ascendency as half-time approached.

Indeed, when the whistle went, the home following at Pride Park stood in apprecation of the first period - a far cry from the atmosphere on Saturday.

Derby came out of their dressing room for the second period with renewed purpose - and they were celebrating with just 20 seconds gone.

Hossam Ghaly looked to have lost his chance after taking too long just inside the box but the ball came out to Miller, who chanced his arm from 20 yards.

The Scotsman's shot was heading well off target but it struck Jihai Sun and deflected wickedly away from Hart's despairing dive and into the corner.

Moore was then in the thick of the action at both ends as he first mis-cued his header from a corner, then saw a powerful Ireland shot from inside the area strike his arm.

City appealed for the penalty but Bennett was un-moved.

The visitors then threw on their dangerous Brazilian ace Elano - surprisingly only on the bench - in place of teenager Etuhu.

And they found a way back into things just after the hour.

Petrov broke down the left and crossed low across the box where Sturridge stole a yard across Edworthy and managed to poke the ball home via a post from ten yards.

Daniel Sturridge celebrates levelling it up at 1-1. Picture by EMPICS Sport

It was a harsh blow to Derby, who had certainly looked more than comfortable so far in the second half.

An enforced change at the back followed as Davis hobbled off and wsa replaced by Andy Todd, while at the other end Earnshaw couldn't quite kill Miller's cross enough to get away a shot that would trouble Hart.

But the game began to open up with 15 minutes remaining as Todd and Moore stood firm to deny Ireland, while Derby roared back and Earnshaw couldn't quite get a touch as a corner was headed down in front of goal.

Introductions for Geovanni, Emile Mpenza and Giles Barnes signalled both sides' intentions to win the game in the final few minutes.

Barnes was on for Pearson, who looked absolutely shattered, but two of the starters combined to create the next opportunity as Miller's low cross was inches too far in front of Earnshaw.

Tito Villa took over from Earnshaw with two minutes to go - Earnshaw, though he hadn't scored, looked bright and lively all night and left the field to a fine Pride Park ovation.

DERBY: Price, Edworthy, Leacock, Earnshaw (Villa 88), Fagan, Miller, Davis (Todd 69), Moore, Pearson (Barnes 82), Ghaly, Savage (C).

SUBSTITUTES: Hinchliffe (GK), Robert.

MANCHESTER CITY: Hart, Ball, Ireland, Vassell (Mpenza 78), Petrov, Corluka, Sun, Dunne (C), Fernandes, Sturridge (Geovanni 71), Etuhu (Elano 54).

SUBSTITUTES: Schmeichel (GK), Hamann.

ATTENDANCE: 31,368 (2,965 visiting fans).