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  • Oakley (5), Todd (84)
  • Benjani (27), Utaka (83)
  • Date:2007-08-11
  • Kick-off:15:00
  • Venue:Pride Park Stadium
  • Attendance:32176
  • Referee:Dean, M

Live Commentary

90mins

And the whistle goes! And an exciting finish where both sides score late goals means that the game ends 2 apiece, and Derby showed great courage to come straight back in this game after conceding so late on.

90mins

Benjani Mwaruwari is replaced by Noe Pamarot as a late substitution.

90mins

Three minutes of stoppage time to play!

88mins

Only a couple of minutes left and the fans are at a fever pitch as both sets of supporters know that their side can still snatch a late victory.

87mins

Teale shoots! But just misses, and this game only a few minutes ago was heading into 1-1, could now be ending 3-2 to either side!

84mins

Andy Tood has done it! He's equalised straight away with a bullet header from close range and the ball flies past James in goal.

83mins

Utaka scores from close range after Hermann Hreidarsson assists and Pompey take the lead only 7 minutes before full-time!

80mins

Andy Griffin is replaced by James McEveley for Derby, and Sulley Muntari is replaced by Matthew Taylor for Pompey.

78mins

Hermann Hreidarsson heads towards goal from a Pompey corner, but his effort goes just wide of the left post.

77mins

Both teams have made attacking substitutions, and with just over ten minutes to go, who will come out on top?

74mins

Gary Teale comes on for Robert Earnshaw

73mins

Sean Davis booked for a foul on Craig Fagan

70mins

Both sides seem fairly even as they both enjoy spells of possession, but with the introduction of Kanu, Derby need to be extra careful entering these final 20 minutes.

70mins

Kanu, Portsmouth's leading marksman from last season, comes on to replace David Nugent

68mins

Portsmouth have a succession of corners, but are unable to make anything of it.

65mins

Darren Moore latches on to a Derby corner and heads towards goal, but Lauren is able to block the effort.

62mins

Sulley Muntari shot is blocked by his own man! Utaka is the guilty party.

61mins

Portsmouth fail to score after a couple of minutes of intense pressure. Derby seemed to have weathered this particular storm.

58mins

Matt Oakley is booked for a foul on Benjani.

57mins

On the whole, it has to be said that Portsmouth are on top, but with the score at one-all, then this domination by Pompey needs to be telling.

54mins

Craig Fagan mishits his shot from the edge of the box, and the ball goes safely wide.

53mins

Craig Fagan fouls Sol Campbell, who seems to be on the end of a few challenges so far this half.

51mins

John Utaka has a go from a free-kick about 25 yards out, but his effort goes over the bar and Bywater takes the resulting goal-kick.

50mins

Matt Oakley puts in a good free-kick from the right hand side, but Sean Davis clears and Portsmouth clear the danger.

47mins

Pompey are out the traps in this second half as Benjani is presented with a pinpoint long range pass, but a great late ditch tackle saves Derby.

45mins

Mike Dean gets the game restarted and the Rams will be looking to begin the second half exactly the same way in which they began the first.

45mins

The whistle goes, and both sides go into the break one goal apiece. The Rams certainly started well but Pompey have done well to bring the game back by the break.

44mins

Lauren is booked for a foul on Andy Griffin.

43mins

Only a couple of minutes untill half-time and both David kelly and Billy Davis it would have seemed, would have taken 1-1 at half-time.

40mins

Derby, after a good spell from Pompey, hit the post with Steve Howard's header. And Derby are putting up a great show so far.

37mins

Benjani Mwaruwari is caught offside as the Rams defence do their job.

35mins

John Utaka tries his luck from long range, by his shot is easily saved by Bywater in the Derby goal.

32mins

Andy Todd had a good effort on goal straight after the Pompey goal, but it was fired over, and with an hour still to go, this game is wide open.

30mins

Benjani Mwaruwari showed a great piece of skill before he fired home, and it was that bit of skill that gave him the space he needed in the box.

28mins

Benjani Mwaruwari, with Pompey's first shot on target, finds the net and brings the scores level as his shot goes underneath the keeper.

27mins

Portsmouth though have been comming close, however, they've yet to get a shot on target so far in the game.

24mins

This is the first ever meeting in the Premiership between these two sides, and perhaps a lack of knowledge of the other side is in evidence here and both sides continue in failing to create any geniune chances.

21mins

Lauren takes the throw-in for Pompey, who are not panicking yet as they stroke the ball around waiting for the opening in the Deby defence.

19mins

The game has gone into a temporary lull as both sides dont want to over exhaust themselves in this summer heat.

16mins

Assistant manager David Kelly seems to be doing a good job so far as the home side seem fairly comfortable with their one goal lead, but Pompey have plenty of time left to get back in it.

13mins

Moore, from a set piece, finds his wsy in between the Pompey defence but he heads over, the game is starting to hot up now.

10mins

Portsmouth haven't been able to create many chances as of yet, but new signing David Nugent has come the closest so far.

7mins

The goal has sent the home fans into a frenzy, but they musn't get ahead of themselves, and be sure to keep it tight at the back.

5mins

Matt Oakley shoots from range and finds the net! And Derby have taken a very early lead at Pride Park, and this is exactly what the home fans would have wanted.

2mins

There is a great atmosphere here at Pride Park but its Pompey who have started the brighter of the two sides.

0mins

The Rams play hosts to Pompey in a game that is sure to be very open as numerous summer signings will look to impress, Rams manager Billy Davies is serving a one match touchline ban.

0mins

Kanu is on the bench and James starts in goal for the 132nd consecutive time as Pompey play with: James, Lauren, Distin, Campbell, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Davis, Pedro Mendes, Muntari, Nugent, Mwaruwari

0mins

Todd, Davis, Earnshaw and Griffin, all make their first appearances for Derby as they kick-off with: Bywater, Mears, Moore, Davis, Griffin, Fagan, Oakley, Todd, Pearson, Howard, Earnshaw

Match Preview

Derby County begin life back in the top-flight with a home clash against Portsmouth, one of the teams who have been busy trying to force their way into the elite of the Premier League.

Rams boss Billy Davies has also been busy in the transfer market trying to add quality to a squad that gained promotion via the play-offs last season.

Wales striker Robert Earnshaw will be charged with providing the goals to keep County away from relegation danger, while experienced centre-half Andy Todd will help shore up the backline.

Another major signing, Sheffield United's Claude Davis, is likely to shrug off a slight injury to feature, but Davies has already voiced concern about the quality of his squad.

He said: "We need lots of signings to take ourselves up to the level of competition in the Premier League.

"We must add quality and numbers, but I don't think we'll be ready until the end of August and we're not anywhere near the squad we want to have."

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp has no such concerns, as he has added substantially to a squad which almost sealed a UEFA Cup spot last season.

Much will be expected of England striker David Nugent, who has joined in a £6million deal from Preston North End, while Rennes' John Utaka will add pace in attack.

Ghana international Sulley Muntari should bring added steel and quality in midfield, while Sylvain Distin and Hermann Hreidarsson are valuable additions in defence.

Linvoy Primus will miss out on the opening weeks of the campaign as he recovers from knee surgery earlier this summer, but he recognises the challenge ahead.

He said: "The main aim for the club is another top-ten finish. That will be recognised as a good season.

"You can't rest on what you've done last season. That's what the manager's done by signing the players he's signed."


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Match Report

Derby County showed they are determined to make the bookmakers eat their words after an entertaining return to the Premier League against Portsmouth at Pride Park.

The Rams, widely tipped to go straight back down, more than held their own and thoroughly deserved to take a point from their first game back in the top flight for six years.

Matt Oakley gave Derby are early lead, but Portsmouth hit back with goals from Benjani Mwaruwari and John Utaka, before Andy Todd equalised with a flying header.

Both teams could have won the game late on, but the draw was a fair result and Derby will be satisfied to have opened their campaign with a point.

Portsmouth will also probably feel satisfied to have left with a draw after a poor away record last season, although manager Harry Redknapp was no doubt frustrated that his side conceded so soon after taking the lead.

It was Derby that had started brightly with Steve Howard flicking-on a goal kick to send Oakley in on the left to drive a low shot past David James.

Portsmouth were struggling to get into the game as Oakley and Todd, playing in a holding midfield role, dominated possession, but the visitors gradually imposed themselves and the equaliser came in the 26th minute.

Utaka slipped the ball inside to David Nugent, who played Benjani in and the striker turned inside Andy Griffin to fire a low shot under Stephen Bywater.

Howard almost restored Derby's lead with a header that struck James' left-hand post and County could have gone in front early in the second half.

A loose ball from Sulley Muntari was pounced on by Craig Fagan and the midfielder raced clear, only for James to block his shot and Sol Campbell tidied up.

As the game began to open up, both sides were finding gaps to exploit and it needed a perfectly-timed challenge by Pedro Mendes to deny Tyone Mears in the 75th minute.

Portsmouth looked to have won it seven minutes from the end when Sylvain Distin swung over a free-kick and Hermann Hreidarsson headed the ball down for Utaka to score with a low right-foot shot.

But Derby hit back straight away when substitute Gary Teale went past Hreidarsson and Todd threw himself full-length to head into the net.

Derby County

Portsmouth

Corners

66

Fouls

1417

Goal attempts

1212

Shots off target

66

Offsides

34

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