Stubbs, developing as a free-kick specialist since his summer arrival from Celtic, said: 'Unsie was going to take it. I said: "No, I can see a gap, let me have it?. He still said he was taking it, so I told him again I could see a gap.
'So he took a step sideways, had a look, and went: "OK". I just kept my head down and tried to keep it low, and, fortunately for me after all that, the ball went into the bottom corner.'
Three minutes later Niclas Alexandersson was allowed the far-post freedom to make it 3- 0, but Derby substitute Branko Strupar, with a marvellous 25-yard volley, signalled the game was far from over even though Ferguson thought he had settled the issue with a studied 71st-minute finish.
Lee Morris also came off the bench to hook a second Derby goal into the roof of Steve Simonsen's net before the inspirational Strupar launched a fabulous 81stminute header to set up the storming finale that tested Stubbs' nerves as well as his pain threshold.
He admitted: 'When you have to go out needing a result, there's a tension and your football goes out of the window. We're not playing brilliant stuff, but we've dug in and worked hard, and, with people coming back the gaffer has more options now.'
Moyes' new broom has stiffened Everton to such an extent that they clung on for their first Premiership win away from Goodison since the season's opening day.
Gregory was as defiant as ever after a performance that left the crowd breathless, if their team pointless. He insisted: 'We're a bloody good side, and the players had better believe that, because I do.'
