Tosin Adarabioyo got the final touch as he diverted the ball into his own net for Derby's winnerDerby County brought an abrupt halt to Fulham's Premier League promotion party as they came from behind to claim a crucial victory that kept their own faint hopes of avoiding relegation alive.
Fulham were on track for the win that would have secured an immediate top-flight return with five games to spare thanks to Fabio Carvalho's well-taken opener.
But 19-year-old Luke Plange brought the hosts level five minutes into the second period before Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo turned Tom Lawrence's cross-shot into his own net.
Realistically, the result is unlikely to change the narrative of the campaign given Fulham still only require three points for promotion and a single defeat in the Rams' final four games will leave Reading requiring just a point to send Derby down.
But, in front of prospective new owner Chris Kirchner, the result underlined the fight that remains in a club that should, over the next couple of weeks, provide manager Wayne Rooney with some much-needed stability to build for the future.
Successive defeats for the first time this season is a major disappointment for Fulham - and this loss will hurt because for 45 minutes it looked so unlikely.
Prospective new Derby owner Chris Kirchner was among the 23,773-strong crowd at Pride ParkWithout ever being at their best, Marco Silva's men had too much for their hosts.
Carvalho's finish at the end of a one-two with Bobby Decordova-Reid showed why Jurgen Klopp is keen to get the Portuguese youngster to Liverpool, and he would have had two but for Ryan Allsop's excellent save.
Allsop denied 38-goal Aleksandar Mitrovic with a flying save after half-time and the Serb had a goal disallowed for offside as he tucked home the rebound to a Carvalho effort that struck the base of a post.
By that point, Derby had equalised when Plange finished off a flowing move that also included home-grown pair Liam Thompson and Lee Buchanan.
There was an element of fortune about Derby's winner but Plange deserves credit for putting Tosin under pressure.
In a frenetic finale, Malcolm Ebiowei tested Marek Rodak with a long-range drive before Harrison Reid had an injury-time shot deflected over as Derby remained defiant to secure a memorable triumph.
Fulham manager Marco Silva:
"Our first-half good and in the second-half, we expected a reaction and it was important for us to control the game and we made a mistake.
"We had chances to win. We are at the top of this league for a reason but we lost our focus. We have to improve.
"Back-to-back defeats for the first time this season, that is not a matter of focus. Tonight we needed to be more aggressive. We had to stop attacks with tactical fouls.
"We knew before the match it would be emotional. We knew what would happen with three points. Derby's pressure is much tougher. Our pressure is the nicest pressure.
"But if we want to play in the Premier League, we have to deal with pressure."
Line-ups
Derby
Formation 4-2-3-1
31Allsop
2Byrne33Davies41Cashin26Buchanan
5Bielik42Thompson
32Ebiowei10Lawrence38Knight
48Plange
31AllsopBooked at 89mins2Byrne33Davies41CashinBooked at 90mins26Buchanan5BielikSubstituted forSibleyat 84'minutes42ThompsonBooked at 33minsSubstituted forEboseleat 72'minutes32EbioweiSubstituted forRichardsat 90+7'minutes10LawrenceBooked at 61mins38Knight48PlangeSubstitutes
3Forsyth16Stearman17Sibley21Roos36Ebosele46Richards49CybulskiFulham
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Rodák
20N Williams16Tosin13Ream23Bryan
10Cairney6Reed
8Wilson28Carvalho14De Cordova-Reid
9Mitrovic
1Rodák20N WilliamsSubstituted forMuniz Carvalhoat 81'minutes16Tosin13Ream23BryanBooked at 90mins10CairneySubstituted forSeriat 72'minutes6Reed8WilsonSubstituted forKebanoat 72'minutes28Carvalho14De Cordova-Reid9MitrovicSubstitutes
3Hector7Kebano12Chalobah19Muniz Carvalho21Gazzaniga24Seri33RobinsonReferee:Robert JonesAttendance:23,773Live Text
Match ends, Derby County 2, Fulham 1.
Second Half ends, Derby County 2, Fulham 1.
Substitution, Derby County. Carlos Peliza Richards replaces Malcolm Ebiowei.
Joe Bryan (Fulham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Joe Bryan (Fulham).
Festy Ebosele (Derby County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt saved. Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aleksandar Mitrovic with a headed pass.
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Ryan Allsop.
Attempt saved. Harrison Reed (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Hand ball by Fabio Carvalho (Fulham).
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Eiran Cashin.
Eiran Cashin (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Eiran Cashin (Derby County).
Attempt saved. Malcolm Ebiowei (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Luke Plange.
Ryan Allsop (Derby County) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Neeskens Kebano with a cross.
Hand ball by Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham).
