Match Report: Derby County 1-1 Portsmouth

Derby County and Portsmouth played out a 1-1 draw at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon in Sky Bet League One.

James Collins looked to have earned the Rams all three points with a late penalty but Colby Bishop equalised for the visitors in the final minute of stoppage time.

Key Moments

The first big chance of the game fell Derby's way within the opening three minutes and it really should have seen the Rams take the lead. A cross from Conor Washington fell kindly to Conor Hourihane central in the area and his first time effort was deflected onto the bar by Martyn Waghorn.

Pompey's first forage forward almost saw them take the lead, too. Striker Colby Bishop rose highest to meet a corner from the left and his looping header was headed over from under his own bar by Waghorn.

Craig Forsyth crept in at the back post to meet a Hourihane free-kick but he could only steer his first-time volley over the bar as the Rams searched for a breakthrough.

Washington had a shout for a penalty turned down soon after when he burst through into the box and attempted a pull-back for Waghorn but referee Rebecca Welch was unmoved by any appeals.

Down the other end and Curtis Nelson pulled off a superb sliding block to deny Bishop whose strike looked destined for the back of the net.

Unfortunately for the Rams, captain Hourihane had to make way before the break due to injury and was replaced by Elliot Embleton who was making his debut in a Derby shirt.

Paddy Lane fizzed an effort just wide of Wildsmith's far post with the first chance of the second period as both sides continued to search for an opener in the contest.

The visitors were looking threatening in the early stages of the half and Gavin Whyte's long-range effort took a nick off Bishop before falling kindly into the arms of Wildsmith.

Conor Shaughnessy then spurned the best chance of the game for either side when he fired wide of Wildsmith's goal when unmarked from 12-yards out.

The visitors' second-half dominance continued as Wildsmith then had to be at full stretch to tip Connor Ogilvie's header around for a corner.

Substitute Tom Barkhuizen did well to tee up Waghorn on the edge of the box and the latter's goal-bound effort was blocked brilliantly. There were cries of a penalty following the shot as the defender threw his body in the way but nothing was given with the referee immediately signalling to her shoulder.

The effort seemed to spur the Rams on and they began grabbing much more of a foothold in the game as we entered the final 15 minutes.

A goalmouth scramble nearly saw a winner fall Derby's way but with a number of bodies in their, Kane Wilson's shot blocked at the vital moment.

The Rams were then awarded a golden chance to win the game as Waghorn's flick towards goal was adjudged to have been blocked by an arm and the referee pointed instantly to the spot.

Collins stepped up to do the honours and sent Will Norris the wrong way to give Derby a precious lead with just five minutes of normal time remaining.

Six minutes of additional time were signalled and there was still one last moment of fear for the Rams to endure when Pompey substitute Terry Devlin headed into the ground and over from a brilliant position.

And with almost the last kick of the game the visitors did get an equaliser, Bishop prodding home from close range to deny the Rams the three points and ensuring the spoils were shared.

The Teams

Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth, Hourihane (C) (38' Embleton), Cashin, Waghorn, Mendez-Laing (66' Sibley), Smith, Washington (57' Collins), Elder (57' Barkhuizen), Fornah (46' Wilson), Nelson.

Substitutes not used: Vickers (GK), Bradley.

Portsmouth: Norris (GK), Swanson, Poole, Ogilvie, Pack (C), Robertson (90' Devlin), Bishop, Whyte, Shaughnessy, Kamara (72' Anjorin), Lane (90' Sparkes).

Substitutes not used: Schofield (GK), Towler, Stevenson, Raggett, Anjorin.