the match by the Derby County supporters. Moxey spent the majority of his first season at Derby battling with Jay McEveley to be the club's first-choice left back and eventually finished the season with 31 starts from the clubs 51-game programme. The release of McEveley from his contract at the end of the 2009–10 season saw Moxey as Derby's only natural leftback, though this was changed with the arrival of Gareth Roberts from Doncaster Rovers ahead of the 2010–11 campaign. Roberts started the season at leftback, leaving Moxey on the bench, though Moxey made a surprise return to the first team as an emergency forward after injuries ruled out all of Derby's strikeforce. Moxey made his first start as a striker and scored his first goal for Derby in a 2–1 defeat to Coventry City, dedicating the goal to his former Exeter teammate Adam Stansfield, who died earlier in the month. After two games as a striker, injury to Roberts saw Moxey return to his natural defensive position and, after a shaky start where he was at fault for winning goals in defeats to Sheffield United and Hull City, Moxey, and Derby, recovered their form to go on a four match unbeaten run in which they conceded only twice. Moxey impressed, with manager Nigel Clough suggesting that Roberts would not return straight into the side when he recovered, adding "Dean has played much better in the last four games. At Swansea, Dean was up against as tricky and as quick a winger as he will face in Nathan Dyer and he handled it very well". When Roberts was again available for selection, Moxey retained his place in the Derby side and rewarded Clough's faith with the opening goal, a cross which a helpless Andy Lonergan palmed into his own goal, in a 3–0 victory over Preston North End. Moxey's fine form continued as Derby stretched their form to just 1 defeat in 8, the best in the division, with a 2–0 win over Portsmouth which took Derby to fourth in the table and saw Moxey earn his first Championship Team of the Week award. In the January 2011 transfer window, Moxey was the subject of a £400,000 bid from Crystal Palace, which was accepted by Derby, leaving them with only one recognised left back. Crystal Palace Moxey joined Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee on 31 January 2011, and was