Derby County played out a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Portsmouth in Sky Bet League One on Friday evening.
The Rams had the better chances to win the game on the night but the two ultimately cancelled each other out and it ended in stalemate.
The Rams started on the front foot with their press leading to the first chance of the game. Excellent interchange between David McGoldrick and Conor Hourihane resulted in the latter picking out James Collins with a delightful cross but the striker could only head wide.
McGoldrick was in the thick of the action again soon after. He brought down a flick on from Eiran Cashin before unleashing a vicious first-time volley that clipped the top of the crossbar on it’s way over.
Pompey were mustering a few half-chances of their own, though. First, Josh Koroma fired a tame free-kick at goal from a promising position and Connor Ogilvie headed the resulting corner on to the roof of Joe Wildsmith’s net.
Derby’s best chance of the half came just before the break and it was Craig Forsyth that was inches away from putting the Rams in front. A Hourihane free-kick from the right deceived everyone including Forsyth who was waiting to prod home at the back post but the ball slipped under his legs and trickled agonisingly wide.
After the break the hosts started brightly and Forsyth was involved again but this time at the other end. A cross-shot from Dane Scarlett dropped kindly for Owen Dale who headed back across goal only for Forsyth to stop a tap-in with a brilliant last-ditch clearance.
The Rams rode the early pressure and worked their way back into the game with a couple of big chances of their own.
Liam Thompson's goal-bound effort was blocked with what looked to be an arm but penalty appeals were waved away before Louie Sibley had a good strike well saved by Josh Griffiths in the Pompey net.
Both sides continued to fight for a winner as we entered the last 10 minutes but both continued to cancel each other out.
Six additional minutes were added and the Rams nearly snatched one with the last kick of the game. Forsyth was at full stretch to try and convert a knock-down from Cashin but it wasn't to be.
The Rams remain sixth in Sky Bet League One on 29 points.
Attendance: 18,623 (1,270 Derby County fans)
Portsmouth: Griffiths (GK), Swanson, Robertson (C), Ogilvie, Pack, Bishop, Dale, Scarlett (85' Pigott), Raggett, Mingi, Koroma (61' Curtis)
Substitutes not used: Oluwayemi (GK), Hume, Tunnicliffe, Hackett, Morrison
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth, Cashin, Hourihane, Bird (C), Collins (77' Dobbin), McGoldrick (87' Osula), Smith, Thompson (77' Barkhuizen), Sibley, Rooney (77' Stearman)
Substitutes not used: Loach (GK), Aghatise, Oduroh
It’s another break from Sky Bet League One action for the Rams when they travel to League Two outfit Newport County for round two of the FA Cup on Sunday November 27 (3:15pm kick-off).
