Rams Held By Morecambe

Derby County were held to a 1-1 draw in their latest pre-season encounter after a Laurence Wilson penalty inside the last fifteen minutes leveled the scores. After a slow opening The Rams picked up their passing and Nathan Tyson and Jamie Ward both forced saves out of Barry Roche before the break. Chris Maguire came on after the break and prompted a number of moves from midfield and his ball to Ben Davies inside the area lead to the opening goal when the former Notts County mans` low cross was turned into his own net by Nick Fenton. Derby took their foot off the gas a little and Russell Anderson was adjudged to have handled a shot on the line and Wilson flashed the penalty into the roof of the net giving Frank Fielding no chance.

Frank Fielding, John Brayford, Russell Anderson, Gareth Roberts, Conor Doyle, Steven Davies, Jamie Ward, Lee Croft and Nathan Tyson all returned to starting lineup at the Globe Arena after being on the bench against Macclesfield on Tuesday. Derby were a little slow out of the blocks and Morecambe made the running in the early stages and Phil Jevons rattled the bar from close range but the flag was already up for offside. The Rams got back into the match and Jamie Ward and Nathan Tyson both forced saves from Barry Roche in the home goal at the other end. Steve Davies` low free kick forced Roche into another save on the half hour mark but neither side could find the breakthrough before the halftime whistle.

Chris Maguire came on at the break in place of Tyson and Callum Ball and Theo Robinson followed to replace Ward and Davies before the hour mark. Ball had an effort from the edge of the area with virtually his first touch but he blasted wide of the mark and The Rams took the lead twenty minutes into the second half. Maguire found Ben Davies with a neat ball down the right-hand side of the box and his inviting low cross was diverted into his own net by Nick Fenton. Stephen Pearson had been introduced just before the goal and he dragged a shot wide shortly afterwards and Morecambe equalized with fourteen minutes to go. Russell Anderson was adjudged to have handled on the line from a Dan Parkinson shot and Laurence Wilson fired the spot kick into the roof of the net. The home side had their tails up but Derby stood firm at the back with Mark O`Brien looking comfortable and Robinson nearly won the match at the end but he dragged his shot narrowly wide.

Derby County: Fielding, Brayford, O'Brien, Anderson, Roberts (Blanchett 84), Doyle, Croft (Pearson 63), B Davies (Cywka 77), Ward (Ball 57), Tyson (Maguire HT), S Davies (Robinson 57).

Subs: Legzdins, Connolly

Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Monaco