Derby County slipped out of the FA Cup last night, the first time in almost 40 years they have failed to make the second round.
It all looked so good after three minutes of their replay against Crewe. Two late goals saved their skins in the first round, coming back from 2-0 down with just a minute left on the clock, equalising into three minutes of injury time.
Within three minutes of the replay starting, Paul Warne‘s side were ahead. Tom Barkhuizen gave the hosts the lead with a cool finish, but that was as good as it got.
Aaron Rowe levelled just minutes later, with Crewe then forcing keeper Joe Wildsmith into a smart save from a free kick. On 21 minutes, Eiran Cashin deflected Rowe’s effort past Wildsmith to give the visitors a 2-1 lead, and they added to that in the second half.
Mickey Demetriou got the decisive third with a header, but Wildsmith was also forced into saves from Courtney Baker-Richardson and Shilow Tracey as Crewe looked to pile on the misery.
Crewe’s reward is a tie against League One side Bristol Rovers, whilst Derby slump out of the competition before the second round for only the second time since 1957.
The Rams, who are seventh in the table and went into the game on the back of a four-match unbeaten run, hadn’t sensed an upset, and star man Wildsmith admitted they’d been confident going into the tie.
“I think the lads were really confident going into this one, especially at home. There was no reason for a performance like that, and it was a bit of a shock, really,” he told the club website.
“The lads are really disappointed in there, and I don’t think it’s from a lack of effort. I just think we were a bit impatient at times, especially when we went behind.
“The mood is sombre in the dressing room, and the lads are really disappointed to go into the international break on the back of a defeat, but it gives us a chance to work on things.”
The 27-year-old, who didn’t miss a League One game last season, was undoubtedly the star of the show for the home side, and without him, it could have been even more embarrassing for Warne’s defeated side.
They now go into the international break with a cancelled fixture, meaning their next game is Bristol Rovers at Pride Park on November 25th, rather ironically, the same time they’d be playing the week after, had they managed to defeat Crewe.
Writer’s View
Seventh in League One would be acceptable for most clubs, but Derby County expect to be challenging higher up. Warne made sweeping changes in the summer, and he’s proven time and again at Rotherham he can get out of this division. They were many pundit’s pre-season favourites, and they’re failing to live up to expectation.
Fans won’t remember the 4-0 win against Northampton or even the 3-0 win against Barnsley. It will be this defeat, a humbling reverse against a side that they’ve only welcomed to Pride Park three times as league equals since 1957, that will stick in their mind.
Does it make life challenging for Warne? Perhaps, given that the team were confident. If they play like that when they have belief, it isn’t worth thinking about how they might be when confidence is low.
Or, were they overconfident? Crewe are in good form this season, and perhaps they were underestimated by Derby. Either way, it’s not a good look at all.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief at The Real EFL, Gary is a passionate Lincoln City fan with extensive content creation across the Championship and EFL. He also shares expert football betting tips.
