Buchanan Fires Rams To Victory On His Senior Debut

Lee Buchanan lifted Derby County to a 1-0 victory with a wonder goal against Scunthorpe United on his senior debut.

The 18-year-old defender shone on his first-team bow, playing out of his usual centre-half position as left-back for Phillip Cocu and grabbed the winning goal in the closing stages at Glanfod Park as he coolly struck into the roof of the net.

It will be a night to remember for the youngster who was one of six Rams debutants in the Carabao Cup clash

Summer signings Krystian Bielik, Graeme Shinnie and Ban Hamer all pulled on the Rams shirt for the first time, while young midfielders Louie Sibley and Morgan Whittaker came off the bench to make their senior debuts. Fellow academy product Jason Knight made his first senior start after coming off the bench in the opening game against Huddersfield.

Derby will find out who they will face in the second round later tonight and have been given ball number 17 in the Northern Division for the draw.

Derby looked to take the lead inside the opening ten minutes after a brilliant ball down-field to pick out Jack Marriott in his first start back from injury. The striker takes a beautiful first touch, but Rory Watson closed him down well and met his effort.

The League Two side put in a spirit display as a scrappy first-half played out with John McAtee directing a header from Ryan Colclough’s cross just off target.

Just after the half-hour mark, Marriott has another go as met the end of a cross, but his effort went over.

Hamer was called into action for the first time for the Rams moments before the break, when Alex Gilliead picked up the ball on the edge of the box and shot towards the bottom right corner, but it was a comfortable stop for the keeper.

Derby piled on the pressure ahead of the break looking to grab the opening goal. 18-year-old midfielder Knight shifted to his left just outside the area and rifled a goal-bound shot. It took a slight deflection before being palmed away by Watson.

Jamie Paterson, in his first start for the Rams, weaved his way down the right of the area before taking a chance from close range. Scunthorpe’s keeper got low to bat it away and managed to just get control of it before Bennett could get there.

A sublime save by Hamer kept the score level less than ten minutes after the restart. Hammill’s effort was heading for the bottom left corner, but lighting reaction ensured Hamer got down and pushed it off the line.

Straight down the other end, Paterson went one-on-one with Watson after the winger latched on to a bad back-pass, but his effort was blocked by Watson’s foot.

With 12 minutes left to play, Buchanan was cool and calm when he sprinted down the left into the area and rifled his effort past an outstretched Watson into the roof of the net.

The home side had two dangerous free-kicks in the closing minutes, with the first being headed clear by Curtis Davies and the second fired over the bar by Hammill as the Rams held on to the victory.

Scunthorpe United: Watson; Perch, McArdle, Butler, Ntlhe; Gilliead, Lund, Slater, Colclough (Songo’o, 74); McAtee (Dawson, 74); Novak (Hammill, 26)

Substitutes: Eastwood, Horsfield, McGahey, O’Malley

Derby County: Hamer; Lowe, Davies, Bielik, Buchanan; Knight, Bird (Evans, 45), Shinnie; Bennett (Sibley, 75), Marriott, Paterson

Substitutes: Keogh, Dowell, Waghorn, Roos, Whittaker