Derby came back from two goals down to earn an FA Cup third-round replay against Sheffield Wednesday.
Sheffield Wednesday players surround goalscorer Mark Beevers
The Owls went two up after Mark Beevers' speculative volley squirmed under Lewis Price and Marcus Tudgay pounced on Darren Moore's poor header.
But Kenny Miller pulled one back with a delightful control and finish and Giles Barnes drew the home side level with a controlled left-foot volley.
Wednesday were made to hold on for the draw and face a replay on Tuesday week.
If former Owls boss Paul Jewell thought new signing Danny Mills would shore up his leaky defence, he may have to dip back into the transfer market to find another defender.
And the error-prone Rams were fortunate to face the Championship strugglers who had plenty of defensive frailties of their own.
The Premier League's basement club started sluggishly and were all too often caught pondering in possession by a sprightly Wednesday side.
After just eight minutes, Derby were made to pay for their slow start, albeit through a huge slice of fortune.
Beevers' speculative effort from 25 yards somehow squeezed under Price and bobbled over the line.
It was an horrendous gaffe that would be matched by his centre-back Moore 15 minutes later.
The veteran defender misjudged his backward header, leaving former Ram Tudgay to latch on to the loose ball and clinically slot past Lewis from close in.
The few home supporters at Pride Park were as stunned as their players and, but for shambolic defending from the visitors, the game could have been made safe by the break.
But the excellent Miller went close on two occasions before eventually finding the net on 37 minutes.
Barnes drills through a crowded box for Derby's equaliser
Craig Fagan's chipped cross from the right found the Scot whose wonderful control with his chest created the time and space for a drilled low shot that flew past Grant.
As good as Miller's touch and finish was, three Owls defenders failed to get the crucial block that should have prevented the shot.
Two minutes from half-time, Derby drew level after more dreadful defending.
Wednesday failed to deal with a Fagan corner leaving Moore to head back for Barnes who struck a left foot half volley through a crowd of players into the bottom corner.
Derby improved marginally after the break with Mills chipping a cross to the back post for Michael Johnson who looped his header narrowly wide.
Gary Teale forced a fine save from Grant with a close-range volley from Eddie Lewis's precise cross from the left.
The game became stretched in the closing 20 minutes but despite dominating possession, the Rams failed to find a winner.
Derby: Price, Mears (Johnson 32), Todd, Moore, Mills, Teale (Macken 85), Oakley, Barnes, Lewis, Miller, Fagan.
Subs Not Used: Hinchliffe, Edworthy, Feilhaber.
Booked: Teale, Mills.
Goals: Miller 38, Barnes 45.
Sheff Wed: Grant, Bullen, Hinds, Beevers, Spurr, Johnson, O'Brien, Whelan, Esajas, Jeffers (Burton 61), Tudgay.
Subs Not Used: Gilbert, McAllister, Wood, Boden.
Goals: Beevers 9, Tudgay 23.
Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Derby's Kenny Miller 7.89 (on 90 minutes).
Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.