Derby County booked their place in Round Three of the 2022/23 Carabao Cup with a 1-0 victory over Championship side West Bromwich Albion at Pride Park Stadium.
Derby scored the only goal of the game after 15 minutes through attacking midfielder Louie Sibley’s stunning long-range strike in what proved to be an enthralling opening half.
There was plenty of action to enjoy in the second half too as Albion pushed for a leveller and Derby sought to double their lead.
The latter stages saw the Rams have to roll their sleeves up and dig in as the visitors applied plenty of pressure during six minutes of added time, but they held firm to progress to the next stage of the competition.
Round Three of the competition will take place during the week commencing 7th November 2022 and Liam Rosenior’s side will deservedly have their names in the hat when the draw takes place.
Derby had a shooting opportunity inside the opening 20 seconds as they laid down an early marker. Sibley drove forward through the middle of the pitch with real purpose and played the ball to Dobbin on the right-hand side to take the Rams firmly on the attack. The on-loan Everton forward’s eyes lit up as he took a touch before letting fly with a right-foot effort which he unfortunately dragged wide of the far post.
The visitors had their first chance with three minutes played in what was a lively start under the floodlights, but Joe Wildsmith in the Derby goal came to the rescue. Albion pressed high and won possession as the Rams tried to play out from the back and Republic of Ireland international Callum Robinson was able to get a low shot away from inside the box, but the Wildsmith made a smart stop with his feet.
Robinson dragged another effort wide just before the ten-minute mark, again from inside the box after the Baggies continued to press high up the field, while Adam Reach lobbed an effort over the bar as Steve Bruce’s side asked early questions of the Rams at the back.
Derby, however, were the ones to make the breakthrough - and in spectacular fashion too. Superb work by Dobbin down the right-hand side created the opportunity, beating off several challenges and using his pace to good effect to take the Rams up the pitch in an instant. The ball was invitingly worked to Sibley on the edge of the box and, after working the space to get a shot away, he thundered a left-foot effort beyond Alex Palmer and into the bottom corner for his first goal of the season.
The visitors had a chance to equalise just after the midway point of the half, but once more Wildsmith was well placed to thwart their attempts. A cross from the left-hand side was met by Matt Phillips with a bullet header from around ten yards out, but Wildsmith showed quick reactions to make the save and keep hold of the ball.
Derby stood firm as the Baggies tried to get back level and had a chance of their own to double their lead as the half edged towards its conclusion. Jason Knight strode forward from midfield, driving through the middle of the pitch and towards the Albion penalty area. The Irishman ended the move by hitting a low drive towards the bottom corner, however Palmer was equal to it.
Another brilliant piece of attacking play by Dobbin down the right wing almost provided Derby with a second in the final act of the first period. The wideman once again had plenty of joy advancing up the wing to deliver a cross into the Albion box. The ball wasn’t cleared sufficiently and Sibley worked another shooting chance in the box, this time with his less favoured right foot, and Palmer’s outstretched hand proved to be enough to divert his strike over the crossbar for a corner.
As expected, Derby had to weather a spell of pressure at the start of the second period and several crosses were lofted into their penalty area to deal with, but on the counter-attacker Dobbin carved out a chance for himself early in the half with a fine run into the Albion box which he drove wide of the far post.
Good link-up play between McGoldrick and right-back Kwaku Oduroh opened up a shooting chance from range for the former just before the hour, but he wasn’t able to keep the ball down as his effort fizzed over the crossbar.
There were several changes just after the hour by both sides and Derby introduced Conor Hourihane, Tom Barkhuizen and James Collins into the action, while Albion brought on the likes of John Swift, Grady Diangana, Karlan Grant and Jed Wallace to offer a further attacking threat.
Despite the introduction of the visitors’ big hitters, it was the Rams who almost netted a second goal as the game entered the final ten minutes. Sibley hit a low effort towards the bottom corner after being set up by Hourihane, but Palmer got down well to push the ball away with his right-hand.
As the clock ticked down Rosenior’s side had some work to do in order to see the game out and they did it in and impressive and assured manner, with Wildsmith keeping out Grant's flicked effort at his near post, to see off a side that is strongly backed to be competing for a place in the Premier League this term.
Dobbin’s performance was once again eye-catching, following his impressive display in the 0-0 draw at Fleetwood Town in League One on Saturday. His pace, movement and quick feet provided Albion with no end of problems throughout his 67-minute appearance, and he was at the very heart of Derby’s best attacking moves when he was on the pitch.
McGoldrick, on his first Rams start following two outings off the bench against Shrewsbury Town and Fleetwood last week, showed some excellent touches and led the line well as he continues to build his match sharpness. His minutes on the pitch, just over an hour, highlighted just why he is backed to play a key role for the side over the course of the campaign.
Sibley, in addition to his well-taken goal, put in another lively showing which will have done his chances of a start against Peterborough United in League One on Saturday no harm whatsoever.
Down the other end of the pitch, what Wildsmith in the Rams’ goal had to do, he did with confidence and assurance as he continues to grow into the role as the side’s number one goalkeeper, while youngster Oduroh produced a positive display at right-back on just his second outing since signing from Manchester City in July.
It was a night where every member of the Derby side to be on their game - and they were.
Derby will return to League One action when they face Peterborough United at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off).
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth (C), McGoldrick (Collins 67), Smith, Roberts, Thompson, Sibley (Bird 86), Dobbin (Barkhuizen 67), Oduroh, Rooney, Knight (Hourihane 61).
Substitutes Not Used: Loach (GK), Cashin, Stearman, Robinson, Cybulski.
West Bromwich Albion: Palmer (GK), O’Shea, Bartley, Robinson (Wallace 76), Livermore (C), Phillips (Diangana 66), Reach, Ashworth (Swift 66), Cleary (Grant 66), Gardner-Hickman, Ingram (Fellows 46).
Substitutes Not Used: Button (GK), Furlong, Asayi, Molumby.
