• Date: Sat 11 August 2007
  • Venue: Pride Park Stadium
  • Ref: Dean, M
  • Attendance: 32,176
Derby County

Derby County

Oakley (5)

Todd (84)

2 - 2
Portsmouth

Portsmouth

Benjani (27)

Utaka (83)

Derby County vs Portsmouth

Team Lineups

Derby County

Stephen Bywater
Darren Moore
Tyrone Mears
Andy Todd
Andy Griffin (Jay McEveley, 80)
Claude Davis
Matty Oakley
Stephen Pearson
Craig Fagan
Steven Howard
Robert Earnshaw (Gary Teale, 74)

Portsmouth

David James
Hermann Hreidarsson
Etame Mayer Lauren
Sylvain Distin
Sol Campbell
John Utaka
Sulley Muntari (Matt Taylor, 80)
Miguel Pedro Mendes
Sean Davis
David Nugent (Nwankwo Kanu, 70)
Mwaruwari Benjani (Noe Pamarot, 90)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

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.

90
Substitution
 

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

90

Three minutes of stoppage time to play!

88

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.

87

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!

84
Goal
 

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.

83
Goal
 

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

80
Substitution
 

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

78

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

77

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

74
Substitution
 

Gary Teale comes on for Robert Earnshaw

73
Yellow Card
 

Sean Davis booked for a foul on Craig Fagan

70

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.

70
Substitution
 

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

68

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

65

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

62

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

61

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

58
Yellow Card
 

Matt Oakley is booked for a foul on Benjani.

57

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.

54

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

53

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

51

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.

50

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

47

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.

Second half
 

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.

Half time
 

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.

44
Yellow Card
 

Lauren is booked for a foul on Andy Griffin.

43

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.

40

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.

37

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

35

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

32

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.

30

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.

28
Goal
 

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

27

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

24

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.

21

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.

19

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

16

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.

13

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.

10

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

7

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.

5
Goal
 

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.

2

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

Kickoff
 

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.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

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

Awaiting Kickoff
 

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