Rams Throw It Away

Derby County made their annual exit in the Capital One League Cup to lower league opposition after losing 7-6 on penalties to Scunthorpe United following an incredible 5-5 draw. The Rams were three up at the break but could and perhaps should have been at least double that after some profligate finishing that was eventually to cost them dearly. An Andy Barcham goal for Scunthorpe at the start of the second period was immediately cancelled out by Jake Buxton's second goal of the evening and despite another goal for the visitors from Mike Grella's powerful finish Theo Robinson looked to have the chance to kill the game off but his penalty was saved and Scunthorpe immediately went up the other end and made it 4-3. Nathan Tyson headed home to leave Derby two goals up going into added time only The Rams to collapse with a goal bundled home from close range and a penalty with the last kick of the game leading to an extra-time and the penalty shoot-out heartbreak.

Derby made all of the running in the first-half and Michael Jacobs, making his home début had a hand in all three goals during this period. Firstly, his corner was headed home at the far post by fellow debutant Richard Keogh on the half hour before a set piece delivery was then headed in by Jake Buxton to put Derby firmly in control four minutes later. Jacobs then flicked on a low corner from Paul Coutts which was stabbed home from close range by Theo Robinson with five minutes to go until the break in a half in which the advantage could have easily have been double what it was when the referee signalled the forty-five minutes were up.

There was no sign of the madness to come at the start of the second period when The Rams again dominated the opening stages but Andy Barcham managed to beat a couple of weak challenges to roll home from close range seven minutes into the half to reduce the deficit. Derby went up the other end and from another Jacobs set piece Jake Buxton thumped home a header to restore the three goal cushion a minute later. Scunthorpe were showing a little more going forward and Mike Grella powered home with an angled drive ten minutes later to leave the score at 4-3.

Theo Robinson had a penalty saved with just over a quarter of an hour to go and his miss was punished almost immediately when the visitors went straight up the other end and Bobby Grant headed home from within the six-yard box to reduce the deficit even further. Nathan Tyson headed home his first goal in a competitive match for Derby with seven minutes to go which looked to be enough to clinch the win for his side. However, Connor Jennings pulled one back four minutes into added time when he bundled home the rebound after a reflex save from Frank Fielding and the amazing turnaround was complete when Jacobs fouled Josh Walker in the area two minutes later and Grant sent Fielding the wrong way from the spot to take the tie into extra-time.

Again, Derby had the run of play in the extra period but could not found a sixth goal and the game went to penalties. The scores were level at 3-3 after five penalties each with Tyson, Keogh and Robinson converting for Derby and Ben Davies and John Brayford having their spot-kicks saved. Jacobs, Coutts and Buxton all scored in sudden death but Tom Naylor hit the bar with his effort to see Scunthorpe progress to the next round.

Derby County: Fielding, Brayford, Keogh, Buxton, Roberts (Naylor, 62), Coutts, Bryson (B Davies, 62), W Hughes (Bennett, 87), Jacobs, Tyson, Robinson

Subs: Legzdins, Lelan, Doyle, S Davies.

Scunthorpe United: Slocombe, Ribiero, Mirfin, Newey, Kennedy, Ryan, Walker, Duffy, Barcham (Jennings, 84), Grant, Grella

Subs: Severn, Gibbins, Godden, M Hughes, Howe, Keegan.

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