Cameron Jerome stole the show when these two sides met on this day back in 2018 as he fired Derby back into the play-off places with only a few games to go but the drama that added to this game came from previous weather conditions and Cardiff defender Sean Morrison.
The original fixture was postponed due to snowy conditions which left Cardiff players frustrated, this followed by a video of Morrison mocking Rams captain Richard Keogh made this game matter even more to both sets of fans.
The first real chance of the game fell to Derby forward Tom Lawrence but his effort was straight at keeper Neil Etheridge but the Welsh international would have been disappointed not to see his effort ripple the back of the net.
Just moments later, Cardiff had a penalty appeal waved away but they would take the lead on the half hour mark as a long raking ball to the far post found Callum Paterson who struck his volley home smartly.
Neither side would create many more opportunities leading up to half time but Bluebirds midfielder Joe Ralls did have an effort from 20-yards out go just over the bar.
No changes were made by either side at half-time but the intensity went up a notch or two as the Rams went searching for an equaliser.
Cardiff again came out well and Gary Madine had a chance to put the tie potentially out of reach for Derby but his effort went well wide of the far post.
Top-scorer Matej Vydra was introduced by Gary Rowett on the hour mark but it was Jerome who would strike as Derby scored one of the most bizarre goals of the season.
The ball was up in the air for majority of the passage of play as Cardiff struggled to clear their lines and Keogh nodded the ball into the path of Jerome who shrugged off Morrison to slot the ball past Etheridge.
The away-side made a couple of changes with gave Neil Warnock's side a foothold in the game again but it was Derby who struck the crucial blow as Yanic Wildschut kept the ball for too long as Andre Wisdom dispossessed him in his own box and rolled the ball to Vydra who smashed past a hapless Etheridge to give the Rams the lead with just under ten minutes to go.
The away side piled on the pressure as they looked for an equaliser but again Derby struck. Wisdom smashed away a clearance which Morrison failed to deal with once again as he was eased off the ball by Jerome, who in turn stuck the ball in the net for his second of the night and confirmed an all important win for the Rams.