3/1 To Win
Derby County bit back in added time at Elland Road as Chris Martin grabbed a dramatic equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Leeds United.
The Rams' striker came off the bench to stun the home side with his late strike to earn a share of the points.
Leeds took the lead after 20 minutes through an own goal by Max Lowe after Stuart Dallas’ initial shot was blocked by Kelle Roos and rebounded into the net off the defender.
Leeds had an opportunity to extend their lead in the second-half from the penalty spot, but Mateusz Klich dragged his low effort wide of the target while Patrick Bamford also hit the woodwork.
The Rams were forced to defend for the majority of the first-half, as Leeds pressed high up the pitch and put pressure on the Derby goal. Inside the opening ten minutes, after good build-up play by the home side, Jack Harrison saw his shot deflected wide after Matt Clarke’s brave block.
Derby went on the attack after 14 minutes for their best chance of the half when Duane Holmes picked up the ball and played through-ball to Florian Jozefzoon. The winger chased it down, but ran out of space as Kiko Casilla got down on the ball to extinguish the danger on the edge of the box.
Roos was kept on his toes throughout the half and denied Kalvin Phillips at the near post after 19 minutes, but just a minute later, Leeds took the lead stemming from a free-kick in the Derby half.
The free-kick was flung into the box and Bamford managed to get to it before the ball went out at the back post back in to Stuart Dallas. Dallas’ half-volley was blocked by Roos, but.the ball bounced off Lowe and into the net.
Dallas continued to be a problem and moments later forced a save by Roos to tip his effort from the edge of the box over. After half an hour, he was close again and managed to get past the Derby goalkeeper, but Richard Koegh was there to make the block on the line.
Just ahead of the hour mark, Roos made a good save to deny Bamford, who hit the post just after half-time, as he fired goalwards on the turn from close-range.
With 20 minutes left to play, Bamford was awarded a penalty when he was brought down by Clarke, which Klich dragged wide of the mark with Roos diving the wronb way.
The game looked all but done before great build up play by the Rams found the leveller.
Martin and Jason Knight played a quick one-two in the middle of the park before Lowe crossed into the box to Jamie Paterson, who also came off the bench, who laid off to Martin.
The striker's low strike fired into the bottom corner to spark wild celebrations and earn a share of the points.
The Rams will have a week to prepare for their next league fixture, when they return home to Pride Park Stadium to face Birmingham City next Saturday.
Leeds United: Casilla; Dallas, White, Cooper (C), Alioski; Phillips; Hernandez (Douglas, 74), Shackleton, Klich, Harrison (Costa, 58); Bamford (Nketiah, 78)
Unused Subs: Meslier, Roberts, Berardi, Gotts
Derby County: Roos; Lowe, Keogh (C), Clarke, Malone; Bielik (Paterson, 61), Huddlestone; Waghorn, Holmes, Jozefzoon (Knight, 83); Marriott (Martin, 73)
Unused Subs: Hamer, Dowell, Davies, Buchanan
