Goals

Squads

Report

ROB Hulse looked to have given Derby County a hard-earned victory against Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena this afternoon until they conceded a 90th-minute equaliser.

Hulse’s header, his fourth goal of the season, put the Rams in front at the interval.

Paul Jewell’s side appeared to have weathered Coventry’s second-half pressure but then substitute Clinton Morrison popped up to score from close range to make it 1-1.

It was no more than the home side deserved although Derby were not happy with the goal because they felt a throw-in went against them in the build up, and Jewell made his feelings known to the match officials at the
end of the game.

The draw meant Derby bounced back from their first defeat in eight games when they lost at Blackpool on Tuesday night.

Paul Green’s absence with a neck injury dealt Derby a blow before the match and ended the energetic midfielder’s ever-present run since signing in the summer.

Przemyslaw Kazmierczak came into central midfield and there was a change at the heart of the back four following Tuesday’s sloppy defensive show at Blackpool. Lewin Nyatanga was recalled to Partner Dean Leacock
and Claude Davis dropped to the bench.

Nacer Barazite’s knee injury handed Australian international Mile Sterjovski his first start of the season and he was keen to impress having been overlooked since the final game of the Premier League campaign.

Jay Tabb’s rib injury forced Coventry to make one change to the team beaten by Burnley in midweek. His place went to Guillaume Beuzelin.

Beuzelin, the deepest of Coventry’s midfielders, saw plenty of the ball in an evenly-contested opening half hour but one short of quality.

He tried to spark the home side with his neat passing and Leon Best’s header flashed across goal before Freddy Eastwood drifted forward and unleashed a low shot which Stephen Bywater did well to turn behind.

At the other end, Keiren Westwood blocked an effort from Nathan Ellington after the Rams striker had been put in by Kazmierczak and Sterjovski dragged his follow-up well wide.

WestWood then dropped to his right to hold Miles Addison’s firm volley from 25 yards.

But Westwood could do nothing about Derby’s opening goal four minutes before the break.

Kris Commons whipped in a centre from the left and Hulse’s clever flicked header looped up and over Westwood’s dive and into the far corner of the net.

The travelling Rams fans were still celebrating when Coventry almost drew level.

Beuzelin released Gunnarsson through an alarming gap. He turned inside Nyatanga and beat Bywater only to see his shot slam against the inside of a post and bounce out. It was a lucky escape for Derby because Gunnarsson should have scored.

Bywater held shots from Gunnarsson and Best early in the second half, and an Eastwood shot whistled over as Coventry pressed. Gunnarsson also side-footed over from an inviting position to bring more groans from the
home fans.

But the Sky Blues had Westwood to thank for preventing Derby doubling their advantage on 67 minutes. The keeper plunged to his left to make a fine one-handed save to keep out Addison’s volley after the midfielder
had met Ellington’s cross.

Gary Teale came on for his first appearance since January, Emanuel Villa replaced Ellington and then Leacock limped off and Davis was sent on as the Rams dug in under fierce pressure.

Bywater’s flying save kept out Gunnarsson’s strike and Jordan Stewart was on hand to clear Michael Mifsud’s dangerous low centre.

The home side kept pushing forward and Bywater brilliantly tipped over Robbie Simpson’s free kick as the clock ticked down.

When the deserved equaliser arrived, Mifsud got the better of Stewart at the back post and drilled the ball in low for Best to force it into the net to spark the celebrations.

COVENTRY CITY: Westwood; Osbourne, Ward, Dann, Fox; Mifsud, Gunnarsson, Beuzelin (Hall, 88), Doyle (Morrison, 69); Eastwood, Best (Simpson, 80).
Other subs: Marshall (gk), Turner.

DERBY COUNTY: Bywater; Connolly, Leacock (Davis, 80), Nyatanga, Stewart; Sterjovski (Teale, 61), Addison, Kazmierczak, Commons; Ellington (Villa, 75), Hulse.
Other subs: Carroll (gk), Zadkovich.

REFEREE: I Williamson (Berkshire).

ATTENDANCE: 18,430 (away fans 3,039).

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