The 2011-12 campaign delivered a respectable 12th-place finish for Derby County, a season of promise and transition under Nigel Clough that marked their best league standing since relegation in 2008. The Rams roared out of the gate with their best league start since 1905, including a memorable 2-1 victory over rivals Nottingham Forest despite a first-minute red card for the keeper. Leading the charge for goals was Steve Davies with 12 crucial league strikes, alongside the emergence of young talent like Player of the Season Jeff Hendrick, establishing a solid foundation for the club's future.