Derby County's hopes of a place in the quarter finals of the FA Cup ended with a late 2-1 defeat at home to Premier League Birmingham City this afternoon.

Derby drew first blood in a cracking cup tie through Jay McEveley early in the second period from long-range, but Birmingham hit back to earn a replay through defender Scott Dann with just over fifteen minutes remaining.

And in stoppage time Birmingham booked their place in the quarter finals when Liam Ridgewell fired home after Kevin Phillips hit the post.

The Rams were unchanged from the 3-0 victory over Newcastle United on Tuesday evening, with manager Nigel Clough understandably reluctant to tinker with the side that put the Championship leaders to the sword.

There were however two changes on the bench, with Ben Pringle in for the cup-tied David Martin and youth teamer Ryan Connolly a surprise inclusion in place of the injured Gary Teale.

In an electric cup-tie atmosphere Derby started well and took the game to their Premier League opponents, without really testing Joe Hart in the Birmingham goal.

The opening exchanges lacked chances, but certainly not determination and passion as both sets of players showing no holding back when going in for challenges.

On the half-hour mark Birmingham began to exert some authority on the game with Bowyer flashing a shot from range just wide.

Soon afterwards Bywater was called into action to make a superb save inside his six-yard box to tip away Jerome's low shot from just inside the box.

The game was beginning to open up and Derby's first effort on goal came from McEveley but his long-range blast was off target.

A minute later Pearson had a good chance to open the scoring after playing a neat one-two with Tonge inside the box but Hart blocked the Scot's shot with his chest at the near post.

Excellent wing-play by Commons created an opening for Derby but his tantalising cross from the right evaded everyone in the six-yard box.

Seconds later a ball pumped into the Birmingham area caused all sorts of problems but somehow Barker's close-range effort was scrambled clear as Derby enjoyed a strong spell of pressure towards the end of the goalless first period.

Commons was in tip-top form at the start of the second half, weaving his way past two Blues players before firing a low shot at goal from 20 yards which was saved by Hart at his near post.

Ten minutes into the half though, Hart was beaten and Derby had the lead in spectacular fashion.

McEveley, who lashed home a stunning winner a few weeks ago against Doncaster Rovers in the previous round, collected a loose ball on the edge of the area and let fly with a thunderous effort which Hart could only turn into the top left-hand corner of his goal.

The England international will have been disappointed not to have kept out the effort which bounced up off the turf just in front of him, but Derby didn't care as McEveley and his team-mates wheeled off in celebration.

Commons tried his luck from distance soon afterwards to test Hart's confidence following the goal, but both times the on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper thwarted the Rams No.10.

Birmingham introduced Keith Fahey and Kevin Phillips into the action not long after the hour as they chased an equaliser, in place of Larsson and Benitez.

But it was Derby who were creating the better openings and a delightful cross from Hulse was only inches away from Commons lurking at the far post unmarked.

With Phillips on the pitch Birmingham were always in with a good shout of a chance at any stage and Barker had to be at his best to stick to the striker like glue inside the box as he looked to get a shot in, and the defender won the battle with a fine block.

On 73 minutes though, Birmingham were back on level terms from a set piece. Scott Dann rose highest to meet McFadden's corner with a firm downward header which beat the man on the line and found its way into the back of the net.

That obviously lifted the visitors who were finding themselves on top, but weren't creating any real opportunities to worry the Rams.

That was until the game entered five minutes of added time, when Birmingham snatched the victory.

A shot on the turn from Phillips inside the area struck the inside of Bywater's left-hand post and trickled across the line, allowing centre-back Liam Ridgewell to tap home from just a few yards out to send the travelling support wild.

Derby didn't throw the towel in and Savage forced a fantastic save from Hart from all of 30 yards, which was the final act as Birmingham held on to secure the victory.