The home side made a bright start, recording their first chance of the game within the opening two minutes.  Carson was unable to collect the ball from Gary Teale’s left wing cross, and the rebound from the punch out was gathered by ex Baggie Rob Hulse, who wasted the ball by shooting wide.

Albion soon got into their stride, and after some slick football Gianni Zuiverloon was denied by Jay McEveley as he took a shot on goal from within the box.  Just 60 seconds later Graham Dorrans played in a sublime ball to Simon Cox from a well worked free kick, but the Albion striker saw his effort rebound off the right hand post.

In the 13^th minute Luke Moore released Marek Cech down the left flank, who floated in a lovely ball to a waiting Chris Brunt.  But unusually for Brunt he was unable to capitalise on the chance and miscued his volley wide.  Cox was granted a second glorious chance in the 18^th minute when Cech cut back to him on the edge of the area, but Cox – who might have struck the ball sooner, saw his effort blocked by Dean Moxey.

It was handbags at ten paces next as a scuffle between Savage and Dorrans sparked a mass reaction from both sets of players, with the result being a free kick to Albion and yellow cards for Dorrans and Dickov.  The events seemed to spur on Derby players and fans alike, and moments later they came close to scoring as Dickov guided Stoor’s ball back to Teale on the edge of the area.  Luckily for Albion he could do no more than slice his chance wide of the right hand post.

Five minutes before the break a fantastic save from Scott Carson kept the scores level after Zuiverloon sent Teale’s free kick goal bound.  But the reprieve was not to last long.  Moments later from 18 yards out Paul Dickov sent in a thundering shot, which was deflected onto the bar before bouncing down into the back of the net.  As the half drew to a close Cech picked out Moore in the box, but the Albion man was muscled off the ball by McEveley before he could fire in a shot.

Half Time: Derby County 1-0 West Bromwich Albion

Albion came close within the opening minutes of the second half as Brunt headed just wide from Dorrans’ left wing corner.  There was a let off for Albion moments later as Scott Carson fumbled the ball from a Dickov chance, parrying the ball right into the path of Rob Hulse.  But the Baggies keeper reacted quickly, and managed to get to the ball before the ex Albion man to kick away the danger.

In the 52^nd minute Olsson came to the rescue as Pearson looked to have got the better of Carson with his goal bound effort, and 5 minutes later West Brom manager had seen enough to make a change.  Teixeria came on in place of Mattock, with Cech slipping back into the left back position to allow Teixeira into the midfield.

In the 65^th minute Jara sent a perfect ball into the box for Cox, who was just second to the ball behind Stoor.  Minutes later Di Matteo made another change, introducing Bednar for Moore, which was shortly followed by derby’s first substitution Croft made way for Hendrie.

As the game entered the last 10 minutes of normal play the Baggies were pushing hard for an equaliser, and in the 82^nd minute it finally arrived as Cox hammered home the ball from Brunt’s right wing cross.  Amazingly, in the third minute of stoppage time Albion looked to have snatched all three points as neat play between Jara and Teixeria set up Dorrans, who calmly beat off the challenge from Stoor before rifling home a shot into the roof of the net.

But the drama did not stop there.  With the last touch of the game Derby sub and ex Birmingham City man Campbell headed home Hendrie’s right wing cross to ensure Derby County took a share of the spoils.

Full Time: Derby County 2-2 West Bromwich Albion

Cox (82), Dorrans (90+3)

Dickov (41), Campbell (90+5)

Attendance: 30,127

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