Derby County left it late to record a dramatic 2-1 victory at Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday evening as Andre Wisdom scored an injury-time winner.
Derby took the lead in the 16th minute when Martyn Waghorn’s corner was sent crashing into the back of the net by Uche Ikpeazu. The forward was able to right his wrong minutes into the second half when he made no mistake from the penalty spot.
With seconds left on the clock, Wisdom netted the winner as he reacted quickest to fire home after Waghorn's free-kick had hit the post.
Teden Mengi made his first start for the Rams having made his debut on the weekend coming on in the victory over Middlesbrough. He replaced Nathan Byrne in the starting line-up as both full backs were Wayne Rooney’s only change from the weekend with Craig Forsyth coming in for Lee Buchanan.
George Edmundson made his Rams debut when Matt Clarke was forced off the pitch in the final minutes of the first half after picking up a knock.
Inside the first 20 minutes, both sides had found the back of the net, but it was Derby who took the lead. Wycombe took a quick free-kick inside the Derby half to find Daryl Horgan with space in the left side of the box, but as he drew his leg back, the referee whistled for offside before his shot rippled in the back of the net.
Just two minutes later, Waghorn drilled a corner kick that was inswinging dangerously from the right across the face of the goal and Wycombe’s Ikpeazu sent it crashing into the goal.
The Rams had a chance to make it two on the 25-minute mark on the counter-attack. Kamil Jozwiak picked out Colin Kazim-Richards down the left who filtered a brilliant ball down the channel to Jason Knight. The midfielder drilled a cross in front of goal and Kazim-Richards met the low ball but couldn’t direct it on target.
With five minutes left to play in the half, the Chairboys were inches away from drawing level when Hogan curled an effort from outside the area just past the far post.
The home side kept the pressure on as the half drew to a close calling David Marshall in to make a superb save.
The Rams’ stopper punched the resulting corner well away from danger and Derby returned to the changing rooms with their lead intact.
Moments into the second half, Wycombe found the leveller when the referee pointed to the spot after Josh Knight was brought down in the area. Ikpeazu stepped up to spot and sent the penalty straight down the middle.
The hosts almost immediately took the lead when Jordan Obita sent a free-kick from just outside the box inches over the crossbar.
Waghorn’s delivery from a set-piece created another opportunity for the Rams in the 53rd minute when his free-kick was met by Forsyth at the near post, but the full-back directed his header wide of the post.
After a spell with Wycombe on top, the Rams found their footing again midway through the half and just after the hour mark as they moved the ball well around the edge of the box and worked out an opening for Jason Knight. His low effort hurtled to the bottom corner, but was met by Ryan Allsop.
With just over ten minutes left to play, Marshall was called into make another stunning save when Ikpeazu unleashed from 25 yards out with his effort flying towards the top corner. Marshall leaped to meet it and acrobatically tipped it over the bar.
The Rams had what they thought was a final chance to grab the lead in the final minute when Nathan Byrne crossed into Kazim-Richards at the back post and his bullet header went wide of the far post.
However, with time running out, there was a twist in the tale. Substitute Patrick Roberts was fouled on the edge of the box and although Waghorn's left-foot effort crashed against the post, the ball fell perfectly to Wisdom to drive the ball into the net to hand Derby the latest of late winners.
Derby will return to action on Friday night when they travel south again to face Watford.
Wycombe Wanderers: Allsop, Grimmer, Stewart, Tafazolli, Wheeler, Ikpeazu, Knight, Horgan, McCleary (Onyedinma, 75), Mehmeti (Gape, 75), Obita.
Substitutes: Anderson (GK), Kashket, Muskwe, Samuel, McCarthy, Ofoborh, Adeniran.
Derby County: Marshall (C), Wisdom, Forsyth (Buchanan, 80), Shinnie, Jozwiak (Roberts, 67), Waghorn, Kazim-Richards, Mengi (Byrne, 80), Clarke (Edmundson, 42), Gregory (Bird, 67), Knight.
Substitutes: Roos (GK), McDonald, Watson, Mitchell-Lawson.