NICKY Maynard never stopped believing he could crack the 20-goal barrier for the first time in his career.

A naturally confident individual, City's record signing boldly declared his intention to do exactly that before the Championship campaign had even kicked off.

Many thought him as good as his word when he netted 13 times in 15 outings, only for the goals to dry up during a near-barren 19-game run in which the 23-year-old managed to find the back of the net just once.

Lesser characters might have succumbed to self doubt and cracked under the pressure, but not Maynard, who never wavered from his assertion that his publicly-stated target was attainable. Refusing to lose heart, he kept the faith, persisted and eventually proved that, while form is temporary, class is permanent.

His 19th and 20th goals, one poached from close range, the other delivered from the penalty spot, confirmed Maynard's status as one of the hottest properties outside the Premier League and ensured the Steve Coppell era commenced in positive fashion.

"I never had any doubts," declared Maynard, whose goal-scoring exploits this season are sure to make him a target for bigger clubs during the summer months. "Even when I went on that long run without scoring, I still believed in myself. I would go home a bit depressed when I hadn't scored, but the gaffer kept telling me he had confidence in me and to keep plugging away, because the goals would come.

"I'm quite a confident person and I wouldn't have stuck my neck out if I hadn't thought I could score 20 goals."

There was never a doubt that Maynard would seize the ball and demand to take responsibility for the penalty awarded when he was tripped inside the 18-yard box by Rams full-back Nicky Hunt 11 minutes from time.

City's regular penalty taker Paul Hartley was off the field, having been substituted moments earlier, and the top scorer did not hesitate.

"Harts told me that if we got a penalty and I was close to the 20-goal mark, he would let me take it," said Maynard. "But I wasn't sure whether to believe him or not.

"When I remembered he was off the pitch, I was more than happy to take the spot kick."

He certainly looked happy to convert it, sending Derby keeper Saul Deeney the wrong way and immediately heading towards the battery of cameras positioned to one side of the goal in front of the Atyeo Stand.

Maynard's third-minute opener served to show how he is still maturing and developing as an all-round striker. Not considered a natural goalscorer, the Cheshire-born striker tended to specialise in spectacular strikes, most of them delivered from long range, during the first part of the season. Urged to increase his work rate by former manager Gary Johnson and current caretaker boss Keith Millen, Maynard is finally proving he can score the close-range headers and tap-ins that are the natural preserve of the poacher.

Gary Sawyer distinguished himself on his City debut, sending over a superb cross from the left which enabled Marvin Elliott to out-jump his marker.

His downward header flew across the face of goal and there was Maynard, timing his arrival to perfection, to bundle the ball over the line.

"Milly has been nagging me to get into the box more often and not to stand about outside it when I don't have the ball," said Maynard.

"It's because I'm working harder and doing more running that I'm getting into those positions and scoring the tap-ins. I know I've scored a lot of spectacular goals this season, but I'd rather get 19 tap-ins and one from long range."

Buoyed by the feel-good factor created by Steve Coppell's appointment as manager in midweek, City failed to build upon their good start and allowed Nigel Clough's Derby back into the game.

Although they had nothing to play for other than pride, the Rams refused to throw in the towel and threatened an equaliser when Hunt tested Robins keeper Dean Gerken with a rasping drive and Chris Porter and Stephen Pearson sent shots narrowly wide of a gaping target.

Realising the need to freshen things up, Millen introduced Ivan Sproule and Lee Johnson after the break and City regained control of the contest and threatened to win by a wider margin, Maynard twice shooting over when well positioned.

Pearson pulled a goal back for the visitors five minutes from time but, no matter how hard they tried, they seldom looked likely to spoil the party as City finished their home campaign on an upbeat note.