Three second half goals saw a spirited Derby County fight back from three down to secure a point against Bristol City in an enthralling clash at Pride Park Stadium.
Matty Taylor struck on his first start for the Robins to open the scoring, before Tammy Abraham netted twice in a half to forget for the RamsA key early goal from Darren Bent set the tone in the second 45 minutes, before Tom Ince cut the deficit to one and then Bent struck again to complete the comeback and extend Derby’s unbeaten record on home soil to 11 games.
In the swirling rain, Steve McClaren’s side began the day looking to close in on the play-off positions once more.
Sheffield Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Birmingham City on Friday night had opened up a six-point gap over the Rams, but 10 games unbeaten on home soil, the hosts started strongly over the first 10 minutes as they sought to make an early breakthrough.
A fine free-flowing move carved out the first opening. Bradley Johnson, Bent and the returning Will Hughes all combined in a one-touch passing move that set Ince away on the right-hand side and after cutting inside, he stung the palms of Fabian Giefer.
That was as good as it got over the first 45 minutes, though.
The Robins were without a win on the road since September 24th, but lining up in a 4-4-2 formation itself represented the visitors’ intent to try and take the game to Derby and from a corner, it was City’s headline making Transfer Deadline Day recruit that delivered the first early shock to McClaren’s side.
It started on the far side as David Cotterill whipped a dangerous ball on to the head of Aden Flint, whose header was blocked on the line by Hughes, but was thrashed into the back of the net by Taylor.
Giefer had to produce a fine save to deny Abdoul Camara to ensure the scoreline remained the same shortly after – a save that laid the foundation for a first half showing that no-one saw coming.
Scott Carson had appeared to make a stunning instinctive save himself to deny Josh Brownhill from close range, but just two further minutes elapsed and the Robins did deservedly double their lead as Abraham finished off Taylor’s cross from the left with a header at the far post – his 20th goal of a fruitful loan spell from Chelsea.
Down on the touchline, McClaren signalled his discontent – swiftly making a double change that saw Jacob Butterfield and Ikechi Anya come on for Craig Bryson and Bradley Johnson – but that did little to affect the pattern of the game that had set in.
The next goal would be crucial and six minutes before the interval, Lee Johnson’s side from the South West grabbed it as Abraham helped himself to another close-range finish to add insult to injury and bring the curtain down on a first half to forget for Derby.
The team talk from McClaren was brief, but clear and the Rams emerged much earlier for the second half proceedings than their visitors – the beginning of an incredible comeback.
Much better over the second 45 minutes, they penned Bristol City back for large periods, but they needed an early goal to stand any hope of getting back into the game.
Abdoul Camara forced Giefer into his first save early doors, but after 14 minutes, the Rams had their lifeline as Bent stooped low to head in Chris Baird’s whipped in ball from the right for his sixth goal in 10 outings to make it 3-1 and with plenty of time on the clock.
The Robins had their chances to kill the contest off – Taylor passing up the best of them as he cleared the crossbar from inside the six-yard area after being picked out by Joe Bryan on the left side.
Bryan then had his own chance, but was thwarted by Carson, and both misses left the door ajar for Derby, who duly took their chance to set up a grandstand finish.
With 14 minutes left, the deficit was cut to one as Ince, the Rams’ top scorer, notched his 12th of the season with a looping header after he had arrived late to connect with Ikechi Anya’s teasing deft cross from the right.
Derby’s tails were up and they got themselves back on level terms through the man who scored the first, Bent, as he stepped up to convert a penalty – despite the best efforts of Giefer – after Ince had his legs clipped inside the area.
The Rams looked the most likely to find a late winner, but despite applying late pressure, Bristol City held out to claim a point from a crazy afternoon at Pride Park Stadium.
Derby County: Carson, Baird (Nugent, 70), Keogh (C), Pearce, Olsson; Johnson (Anya, 30), Bryson (Butterfield, 30), Hughes; Ince, Camara, Bent
Substitutes not used: Mitchell, Shackell, Russell, de Sart
Bristol City: Giefer, Little, Flint, Wright (C), Golbourne, Cotterill, Hegeler, Brownhill, Bryan, Abraham (O’Dowda, 82), Taylor (Djuric, 73)
Substitutes not used: Fielding, Vyner, Pack, Paterson, Tomlin
Attendance: 28,043 (889 away supporters)
