Derby County returned to Pride Park in a spot of Sky Bet League One action on Tuesday evening as they came from a goal behind to draw 1-1 with Lincoln City.
The visitors opened the scoring through Olamide Shodipo just before half-time, but momentum swung back in favor of the Rams as the second half progressed.
Conor Hourihane’s close range effort drew Paul Warne’s men level in the 69th minute after he pounced on David McGoldrick’s skewed shot before finishing well.
The Rams piled on the pressure in the closing stages and came close to taking the lead when Louie Sibley struck the crossbar deep into injury time, but it was not to be as the points were shared.
Derby boss Warne named an unchanged starting XI from the defeat at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday afternoon as James Collins led the line and Lewis Dobbin retained his place on the wing after both finding the target at Adams Park. Club captain Curtis Davies remained on the bench, leaving Craig Forsyth to don the armband in the absence of injured vice-captain Max Bird.
The Imps were also unchanged from their last outing, a 1-0 win over Bristol Rovers on home soil. Returning to Pride Park for the first time since his exit in the summer, former Derby striker Luke Plange took a place on Mark Kennedy’s bench following his loan move to Lincoln from Premier League outfit Crystal Palace.
There was an early scare for Warne’s men in the fourth minute after Jack Diamond received the ball in the area and drove towards the six-yard box. The wide player leathered his shot towards goal from close range, but saw his effort crash back off the near post and go out for a goal kick.
Jason Knight found himself booked eight minutes later after a collision with Teddy Bishop. The pair contested for an aerial duel, but the visiting midfielder got the short end of the stick as he dropped to the floor clutching his head.
The visitors threatened again in the 14th minute as Ben House looked to drive down the right flank. Under pressure from Eiran Cashin, House closed in on the penalty area and delivered a cross that none of his teammates were able to connect with.
A man in fine form, McGoldrick wiggled free of his man in the 17th minute and unleashed a rocket towards the Lincoln net, only for it to fizz just over the crossbar to the relief of traveling goalkeeper Carl Rushworth.
Derby were growing into the game nicely and could have easily taken the lead three minutes later following an excellent display of one and two-touch football in and around the Imps’ area. McGoldrick started the move in typical fashion before finding Lewis Dobbin rushing to the byline. Dobbin squared the ball back into the area and towards the path of Korey Smith whose first-time effort was blocked swiftly and cleared. Smith appealed for handball, but referee Scott Oldham waived away the claims.
Knight was on the receiving end of a yellow-card-worthy foul in the 21st minute as House slid straight through the back of him to provoke heated scenes in the middle of the pitch.
Four minutes later, Joe Wildsmith stood tall to deny Lincoln an opener. Shodipo provided the initial threat on the wing before his cut-back made its way through the box uncontested. Sean Roughan was the eventual recipient, though his powerful effort was handled with ease by the Rams’ number one.
The next chance of note came in the 38th minute as McGoldrick intercepted a mistimed clearance in the Imps’ penalty area. His shot deflected kindly into the path of Hourihane, but the Irishman’s half-volleyed attempt flew high and wide of the target.
Kennedy’s men threatened again one minute later as Diamond found Shodipo from a quickly taken free-kick, the latter could not steer his header on target, however, and a goal kick followed.
Lincoln picked up their second yellow card of the evening shortly after as Paudie O’Connor clattered into Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on the right flank. The resulting free-kick was taken by Hourihane and met the head of McGoldrick who glanced his header just wide of the post, prior to the linesman raising his flag for offside.
The visitors then took the lead just before half-time as they pounced on Mendez-Laing’s loose pass and surged forward in numbers. Bishop’s initial effort was saved well by Wildsmith, but Shodipo prodded home the rebound to open the scoring despite serious calls for offside.
Lincoln’s Diamond created the first opportunity of the second half as he raced through on goal seemingly unopposed. That was until Forsyth bombed towards the winger, outmuscling him and forcing him to tee up Shodipo instead of going for goal himself. Shodipo’s effort was tame, though, and trickled into Wildsmith’s hand for an easy save.
The Imps continued their search for a second and came close once more in the 54th minute. Wildsmith’s outstretched leg was the only thing denying House a close range finish.
Momentum shifted back in the Rams’ favor one minute later as Lincoln went down to ten men. Already on a booking, House went straight through McGoldrick to pick up his second yellow of the evening as he made an early exit down the tunnel.
Substitute Sibley tried his luck for Derby in the 65th minute after meeting Mendez-Laing’s cross, but his effort was held well by Rushworth in the Imps’ net.
Sibley then sent an inviting cross of his own into the box, but Knight and McGoldrick both attempted to head the same ball as it ricocheted between them and out for a goal kick.
Derby then finally found a deserved equaliser in the 69th minute as Hourihane poached from close range to level things up. McGoldrick’s initial shot from outside of the area was skewed into the path of Hourihane who reacted well to slide the ball into the back of the net.
Hourihane then curled another attempt wide of the post in the 74th minute, two minutes prior to Diamond’s attempt being saved for Lincoln.
McGoldrick had another opportunity to pull the Rams ahead in the 78th minute, this time his shot was well-saved by Rushworth to keep things level.
Sibley then rattled the crossbar deep into injury time with a thunderous strike before McGoldrick saw another shot saved. The striker then thought he had won it for the Rams as he headed the ball into the back of the net from close range, but the flag went up for offside to ensure the game ended all square.
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK); Roberts [Sibley 51’], Forsyth ©, Cashin, Smith; Hourihane, Knight; Dobbin [Barkhuizen 46’], McGoldrick, Mendez-Laing; Collins [White 46’].
Substitutes not used: McGee (GK), Thompson, Springett, Davies.
Lincoln City: Rushworth (GK); Montsma, Jackson, O’Connor; Poole ©, Erhahon, Bishop [Sanders 63’], Roughan; Shodipo [Sorensen 57’], House, Diamond [Plange 76’.
Substitutes not used: Wright (GK), Boyes, Vernam, Eyoma.
Match Report by Jacob Hackett.
