John Gregory celebrates after Lee Morris nets for Derby (RossKinnaird/Allsport)

His object in abandoning the smart civvies he wore at Aston Villa and moving into the trenches was to foster a spirit of togetherness which he believes is imperative if relegation is to be averted.

He has even gone as far as to get rid of the old square-shaped dining room facilities at Derby's training headquarters, replacing them with circular seating arrangements to encourage an Arthurian 'round table' spirit among his players.

All of which would appear to be paying dividends if this 1-0 win against Spurs is anything to go by, an adventurous first half producing a 43rd- minute goal from youngster Lee Morris, followed by backs-to-the-wall defence in the second half.

Gregory made it known afterwards just how much he wants to be involved at the coalface in the remaining 13 games that will settle the club's fate.

'I feel it's essential to be down there near the players, where they can regard me as part and parcel of what must be a continual effort to scrape points from every game,' he said.

An FA disciplinary panel will decide whether he will be at liberty to do so when he appears before them tomorrow on charges arising out of his brushes with match officials in the Boxing Day game against Liverpool at Villa Park.

Another touchline ban could be on the cards for the 47-year-old boss - and, one suspects, he knows it.

Gregory said: 'If it was to happen, it would affect my team to a degree and I certainly wouldn't enjoy it, especially at this time. I can only hope that common sense prevails and the fact that I am working for another club will be taken into consideration. They would be damaging Derby and, really, it is nothing to do with this club.'

It would indeed be unfortunate if past sins committed by Gregory were to be foisted on to his new team but that was always the risk he, and Derby, ran when they formed their liaison.

It was the only matter to cloud an otherwise perfectly scripted occasion for County, with new signing Warren Barton making a flawless debut and 21-year-old Morris scoring his first goal for the club, 18 injury-stricken months after his £3million signing from Sheffield United.

He said: 'It has been a frustrating nightmare after the club spent so much money for me and I wondered if I would ever get back into the side. John Gregory gave me a chance and I appreciate it. I'm glad I scored for him and the team - and I believe I can do it again if I get the opportunity.'

Barton, 11 years older and wiser than Morris, used his vast experience to deliver an uncomplicated performance and add re-assurance to the undoubted talents of young central defenders Chris Riggott and Danny Higginbotham as Spurs attempted to finish with a flourish.

It was, for obvious reasons, not the best day for notoriously inconsistent Tottenham to visit Pride Park, and manager Glenn Hoddle was honest enough to admit it.

He said: 'We knew we had to match Derby's energy and extra spring in their step with a new manager in charge. We did so in the first half in terms of possession - but possession doesn't always win you games. We didn't really have a driving force. There was a lack of determination to go out and win it and that was disappointing.

'Tottenham have been inconsistent for the past 25 years and it is something I have to put right - but it is going to take longer than nine months.'