Luciano Zavagno scored his first goal for Derby as the Rams earned a deserved point in an entertaining clash with in-form Gillingham at Pride Park.

The Argentine netted with a penalty after Guy Ipoua fired the Gills in front on 57 minutes.

But John Gregory will be disappointed by the injuries to Malcolm Christie and Chris Riggott at the start of the second half.

The Rams started brightly, with Georgi Kinkladze firing a left-foot volley wide from 25 yards, while Ian Evatt tested Jason Brown in the Gills goal from a similar range.

Kinkladze delivered a fine curling effort from the right-hand side of the penalty area which centre-back Chris Hope headed out.

Paul Boertien then tried his luck with a 20-yard volley which sailed over the crossbar and Lee Morris had an effort blocked by Hope as the Gills held firm.

The ever-dangerous Kinkladze then came close when he bent in a superb 25-yard strike against the woodwork.

But Gills' striker Marlon King went close on 27 minutes, forcing a good save by Lee Grant from his right-footed effort.

County boss Gregory was forced to make a change on 54 minutes when Christie was taken off with an injury and replaced by Marcus Tudgay.

And matters were made worse seconds later when the Rams fell behind to Ipoua's sixth goal of the season.

Chris Riggott blocked a long-range shot from Marlon King which left the Rams defender prostrate in the box.

Andy Hessenthaler played in Ipoua and he drilled home, with Riggott playing him onside.

The Rams could have been two down a couple of minutes later when Grant made a double save to keep out King's fierce strike and then denied Ipoua on the rebound.

But Derby levelled on 64 when Lee Morris' surging run into the box was brought to an end by Barry Ashby and Zavagno sent the ball into the top left-hand corner from the spot.

Both sides could have won the game late on, but a draw was a fair reflection of a hard-fought game.

Derby: Grant, Barton, Riggott, Evatt, Elliott, Zavagno, Bolder, Kinkladze, Boertien, Christie, Morris. Subs: Oakes, Jackson, Tudgay, McLeod, Holmes.

Gillingham: Brown, Nosworthy, Ashby, Saunders, Southall, Hope, Hessenthaler, Smith, Shaw, King, Ipoua. Subs: Bartram, Leon Johnson, Spiller, Perpetuini, Sidibe.

Referee: G Cain (Merseyside)