Chelsea's golden oldies enjoyed a glittering day here; age could not wither them even on their travels. What motivated them? The spectre of the Intertoto Cup, with its long summer journeys to Europe's more obscure venues? Or must they get on the right side of Claudio Ranieri before the surplus-to-requirements list is finalised?
A bit of both probably combined to alleviate the travel sickness which has plagued their pursuit of greater honours this season.
They pulled Derby all over Pride Park leaving the hosts decidedly groggy. Yet Chelsea's best away performance will soon be forgotten if they do not take something tangible from this season.
Title failure weighs heavily on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who even in his moment of personal triumph was dismissive of any compensations. "I'd give 10 of my goals to be competing with United," he said.
It is questionable whether the £15m import has heard of Kerry Dixon, the last Chelsea player to score 20 goals in a season, back in 1990. A place in club folklore means nothing to Hasselbaink unless accompanied by a winner's medal.
Chelsea's record signing, at 29, has more time on his side than several Chelsea colleagues. Gus Poyet, 33, admitted he was running out "of years and opportunities" to win his first league title. The Uruguayan sought to make up for lost time here, coming on for the second half and setting up Hasselbaink's landmark goal, before scoring twice himself at the death with a low shot and a glancing header.
Poyet bows in seniority to Dennis Wise and Gianfranco Zola, both 34. Each made light of their years, the captain's passion embellished by passing which rarely can have been more precise and the Italian's touch remaining a thing of wonder. Sadly Zola's sublime ability is likely to be lost to Chelsea in the summer with family factors pulling him back to Sardinia.
It was not such a happy day for one senior servant. Jim Smith paid tribute to Zola and his team-mates, putting this heavy home defeat down "to facing an outstanding side. We weren't hurting them at all and they were very positive."
Some will be less charitable and point to the team's obvious weaknesses which, if exposed too often in the run-in, will surely see a re-evaluation of the role of one of the Premiership's elder statesmen.
The return of Taribo West made little difference, and Derby were ineffectual in midfield and lightweight in attack.
Derby probably need two wins out of the last six games to be safe. If they do not get them, the 60-year-old Smith's insistence that "I still have a year left on my contract and plan to fulfil it" will be challenged from within. In that case Colin Todd, seen as the manager-in-waiting, will be installed sooner rather than later.
