3/1 To Win
Kasey Palmer grabbed his first Derby County goal in second half stoppage time to salvage a point against Leeds United at Pride Park Stadium.
Pierre-Michel Lasogga added to his goal against the Rams at Elland Road with the opener before Andreas Weimann fired home an equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
Substitute Ezgjan Alioski looked to have snatched all three points for the visitors, but Palmer popped up inside the six-yard box to make it 2-2.
The visitors looked to make early inroads and Derby skipper Richard Keogh had to be alert on four minutes to block Pablo Hernandez’s goal bound volley.
Derby soon took control though, and Tom Lawrence’s exceptional corner delivery almost led to Matej Vydra grabbing the opening goal midway through the half.
Tom Huddlestone found Weimann with a delightful ball over the top soon after, but the Austrian could only lift his effort onto the roof of the net, before Leeds struck the first blow against the run of play.
Stuart Dallas had space down the right-hand side and he found Lasogga in acres of space inside the penalty area, with the German making no mistake in planting his header beyond the advancing Scott Carson.
The Rams fought back though, and Lawrence was desperately unlucky not to equalise when his long-range strike thundered off the crossbar.
In the second minute of added time though, the hosts got their reward for a dominant first half display.
Weimann pounced on the loose ball after a wayward header fell inside the box, and the wide man fired hard and low to equalise.
Derby continued to press after the break with David Nugent heavily involved, with the striker having a header comfortably saved before he sliced wide from Weimann’s pass.
He set up Lawrence moments later, but the Welshman’s strong effort was palmed away by Felix Weidwald.
Opportunities were few and far between for Leeds, but as in the first half, when they got a rare sight of goal, they took it.
Samuel Saiz broke away after a Derby free-kick and played Alioski clean through, and whilst the substitute’s first effort was saved, he headed the rebound past Carson to put Leeds in front for a second time.
A defeat would have been harsh for the Rams after a strong performance, and Palmer ensured that Derby came away with a point when he poked home after a scramble inside the penalty area.
Derby County: Carson; Baird, Keogh, Davies, Olsson; Huddlestone, Ledley (Johnson, 80’); Weimann, Vydra, Lawrence (Palmer, 75’); Nugent (Jerome, 68’).
Substitutes not used: Roos, Wisdom, Pearce, Anya.
Leeds United: Weidwald; Berardi, Jansson, Cooper, De Bock; Forshaw, Vieira (Phillips, 62’); Dallas, Roofe (Saiz, 54’), Hernandez (Alioski, 76’); Lasogga.
Substitutes not used: Lonergan, Pennington, Sacko, Ekuban.
Major Moment…
Derby pressed hard after going behind late on and they should be commended for the way that they fought back for a point.
Palmer popped up when his team needed him most, and he tapped home to grab a point that might prove crucial come the end of the season.
Who Impressed…
The midfield pairing of Joe Ledley and Huddlestone was restored at Hillsborough and they controlled the game for large periods.
Huddlestone showed off an impressive passing range once again, with one incredible ball to Weimann to set up a chance in the first half.
What’s Next…
The Rams are straight back in action with the trip to the Madejski Stadium to face Reading on Saturday 24th February, before returning to Pride Park to take on in-form Fulham the following weekend (3rd March).
