Shootout sees The Rams smash and grab a second-round ticket

Wow, talk about late drama. While I catch my breath, I'll leave you in the capable hands of Joe Egerton, owner of the Instagram page @derbycountyupdates2.

Derby County advanced to the second round of the Carabao Cup after a 3-2 win on penalties against West Brom at the Hawthorns on Tuesday evening.

Following a number of good stops from Josh Vickers, Ryan Mason’s side took the lead in the 67th minute.

After Isaac Price picked out Aune Heggebø with a headed pass, the Norwegian found himself in space and converted into the bottom left corner.

The Rams struggled to create any clear-cut chances and if a second goal was to come it was most likely to be for the hosts.

But, going into the final minute of six added on, Joe Ward's deep free kick from a position next to the byline, just left of the box, found the top right-hand corner to force a penalty shootout with the final kick of the game.

John Eustace's side, which featured nine changes to the side that started the weekend's defeat at Stoke, were dominated for much of the game, but ultimately found a way through.

The Shootout

Both Derby and West Brom had lost their last four penalty shootouts meaning that a losing streak was bound to be broken.

Kenzo Goudmijn was first to take responsibility from the spot, and he calmly sent Wildsmith the wrong way converting into the bottom left corner.

Jed Wallace was first to step up for the hosts, however Vickers pulled out a strong dive to the bottom left corner giving Derby the advantage.

Ben Osborn then had the chance to double our advantage however his penalty slammed the post giving Albion a lifeline.

Josh Maja was next up however he failed to convert Albion’s second penalty meaning that Derby still had a 1-0 lead.

Substitute Kayden Jackson then converted down the middle to give Derby a two-goal advantage in the shootout. Alex Mowatt was the first Albion player to score from the spot converting into the top right corner.

Joe Ward, who sent the game to penalties couldn't convert, meaning it was game on ahead of the hosts' fourth penalty; which Jayson Molumby slammed into the top right corner, making it all square in the shootout.

Ebou Adams converted his penalty, whilst Vickers denied Karlan Grant meaning that it was Derby who sent the travelling fans home happy, booking a place in the Second Round.

Up next

John Eustace’s side return to league action on Saturday as we host Frank Lampard’s Coventry City at Pride Park Stadium in the early kick off.

Analysis: Vickers heroic as Derby limp through

Senior Writer Jack Bryan writes...

Dependable: trustworthy and reliable. Josh Vickers.

Yep, that’s right, I’m suggesting a partial rewrite of the dictionary over a game of football.

Too much? Fair enough. But the fact remains that the 29-year-old kept The Rams in the game at The Hawthorns. To go full stat nerd, the former Rotherham man prevented 0.42 goals (simple equation: West Brom’s 1.42xG – 1 goal).

Back in the real world, that doesn’t mean much and omits his two penalty saves. Here is where the good old-fashioned eye test is important. Vickers produced four top stops, first getting down low to deny Callum Styles from 20 yards. Next to be denied was Issac Price from around 12 yards on the hour and Johnston from range following the resulting corner with a strong right hand.

Finally came the prevention of substitute Josh Maja’s instinctive effort with an equally instinctive save.

Otherwise, until the 96^th minute, it was another fairly miserable day at the office for The Rams. Prior to the equaliser they mustered just three shots, all of which were off target, and just five touches in the opposition box compared to West Brom’s 35. Up front, young Dajaune Brown was feeding off scraps.

Aside from Vickers, positives came from David Ozoh, who although apparently not yet fully up to speed, looked composed both in and out of possession. He was comfortable both in pushing forward, and dropping into the backline, as we have seen is so important for the midfielders to do in this 4-2-3-1 system.

Jake Rooney too, picked up where he left off against Atromitos, completing the most tackles in the match, and may well have staked a claim for a starting berth on against Coventry, while ahead of him on the right flank, Joe Ward’s delivery remains the best in this Derby side, and his set-piece prowess was clear for all to see.

Striking too, was the number of milestones referenced by John Eustace when speaking to Rams TV post-match, be it Andi Weimann and Bobby Clark each playing for just the second time in around six months, or full 90’s for the first time in 18 months for Joe Ward, and two years for Jake Rooney.

With nine changes to what was already being viewed as a depleted squad, Derby were always going to be up against it. “The most important thing” as Eustace said was “minutes in the boys’ legs”. Performances will come, and for now, progression is the cherry on top.

In the ever-undervalued role of ‘second choice’ goalkeeper, Josh Vickers continues to excel: that is what has seen Derby through.