Derby County found life difficult to adjust to playing in the second tier of English football and could only mange a disappointing 18th position finish at the end of the 2002 – 2003 season. Worse was to following the following campaign as it proved to be a debacle, finishing the season off in a very disappointing 20th position. They suffered very early defeats in the domestic cup competitions, a defeat against Huddersfield Town into eh first round of the league and a third round exit out of the FA cup as they crashed out against Ipswich Town in the cup competition.
Derby were really beginning to dislike the league cp the following campaign as they once again crashed out of the first round of the competition, suffering defeat against Lincoln City in the first round of the competition. They crashed out of the fourth round of the FA Cup, suffering defeat against Fulham.
They endured a much improved campaign in the championship during the 2004 – 2005 season as they finished it of in a strong fourth position, in turn resulting in a play off position. However they failed to progress past the play offs.
The 2005 – 2006 campaign saw the rams finish off the campaign in a very disappointing 20th position as they were fortunate to avoid relegation to the third tier of English football. They crashed out of the FA cup in the fourth round as they suffered defeat against Colchester United.