3/1 To Win
Three penalty shoot-outs saves by Kelle Roos helped Derby County through to the Carabao Cup Second Round following a goalless draw against EFL newcomers Barrow AFC at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday.
A patient and steady first half from the Rams was followed by an attacking onslaught in the second period as they sought to make the breakthrough. However, the Rams couldn’t find the goal and the tie was to be decided by penalties.
Roos made three diving saves to keep out a trio of penalties, but two of those were matched by Barrow’s goalkeeper to deny Jack Marriott and Max Bird.
However, after his third save, Morgan Whittaker sent the Rams through. They will wait for Sunday to find out their next opponents.
A rocky couple of minutes ensued for the Rams just after the 20 minute mark as the Bluebirds found themselves through on goal twice in two minutes. Dior Angus received a good ball through from Michael Jones and entered a footrace with George Evans towards the Derby goal.
Barrow’s striker edged just in-front and took his shot as Roos rushed out and the Rams stopper closed him down well.
Just moments later, a loose back pass was intercepted and it looked certain the Jack Hindle would break the deadlock with plenty of time and space from the left side of the box, however, he drilled his effort wide of the far post.
The Rams had been patient throughout the half, building up play and that almost came to fruition just ahead of the half-way mark when Jack Marriott struck on the end of Craig Forsyth’s cross from the left, but his effort was defected over.
Ten minutes later, it was Derby’s turn to pile on a couple of minutes of pressure. Louie Sibley held the ball up on the edge of the box before finding Forsyth out wide.
The full back crossed back to the midfielder at the back post but it flashed past him and headed out for a corner. The set piece that followed was delivered by Bird well to Clarke at the back post who headed just wide.
Moments later, Jason Knight had the ball just on the edge of the area, switched to his right and drilled a low shot from 20 yards on target which Joel Dixon got down to save.
The Rams continued in the second half again with much of the possession, but looking for a spark in the attacking third.
With 30 minutes left to play, Cocu brought on Whittaker off the bench to replace defender Matt Clarke – who is still building minutes after joining on loan late in pre-season.
This shifted play to deeper into Barrow’s half and the chances started to fall. Lee Buchanan saw a cross-turned-shot tipped over at the top corner before Knight won a free-kick 25 yards out, which Evans took and saw deflected over.
With 15 minutes left to play, the Rams came the closest yet when Whittaker squared to Marriott after much pressure in the box and the striker’s volley was deflected just wide.
In the final minute, Evans chipped the ball over to Knight right in front of goal, he took it round the keeper, but couldn’t find enough on the ball to find either Marriott who joined him in the box, or the goal.
Despite the abundance of pressure, Derby couldn’t find the goal in added time.
Angus and Evans both made the opening penalties for either side, both opting to go to the right. However, the next two to step up both saw their efforts saved for both sides.
Roos dived to save back-to-back efforts from Barrow, while Marriott and Bird both saw their efforts saved.
Roos came to the rescue again to make a stop after Graeme Shinnie cancelled out a Bluebird’s penalty and Whittaker drilled his effort into the bottom right corner to send the Rams through to the second round.
Derby County: Roos; te Wierik, Evans, Clarke (Whittaker, 61); Buchanan, Forsyth; Bird, Holmes (Shinnie, 56); Sibley(Wisdom, 85), Marriott Knight
Unused Substitutes: Ravas, Davies, Shonibare, Solomon
Barrow: Dixon; Brown, J. Jones, Platt, Ntlhe, Kay (Wilson, 68); Hardcastle, Beadling; Hindle, M. Jones (Biggins, 77); Angus
Unused Substitutes: Taylor, Hird, Gribbin, Penfold, James
