Derby County missed out on the chance to move back into the Sky Bet League One play-off places with a late 1-1 draw at Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
David McGoldrick’s 22nd goal of the season inside the opening five minutes had the Rams in the driving seat early on at the Memorial Stadium.
Derby had to ride some strong spells of pressure from the home side, especially in the second period, but Warne’s side produced a resolute defensive display until a goal deep into added time from the penalty spot from Antony Evans earned the home side a point.
Head Coach Paul Warne named an unchanged starting line-up and bench from the 1-1 draw at home to MK Dons on Bank Holiday Monday to face Joey Barton’s side.
Donning their black away kit in the Bristol sunshine, Derby started on the front foot and inside a minute McGoldrick got away down the left and fizzed an inviting ball across the box towards James Collins which was claimed by home goalkeeper James Belshaw.
The early pressure continued, and the Rams had their noses in front with four minutes played. Tom Barkhuizen was offered time and space down the left to advance forward and pick out McGoldrick in acres of space 12 yards out. The striker was the coolest person in the stadium as he took a touch and fired the ball low into the back of the net to send the travelling Rams fans wild.
Following the lively start, the game settled down somewhat and despite plenty of competitiveness from both sides, chances were limited at either end early on.
The home side had a glorious chance to level matters with 25 minutes on the clock. Scott Sinclair got in behind the Derby backline as a result of Eiran Cashin surrendering possession and, after rounding Wildsmith, his cross-shot towards the far post was thundered against the woodwork by Harry Anderson from a few yards out.
Rovers continued to ask questions of Derby as the half-hour mark approached but Warne’s die rode a strong spell of pressure well before McGoldrick had a shot deflected wide from inside the box and Cashin rose to head Conor Hourihane’s subsequent corner over the bar as chances passed by to double the Rams’ lead.
Aaron Collins had a strike from distance deflected just wide as the first half edged towards its conclusion and that proved to be the final key piece of action inside the opening 45 minutes.
The home side began the second half attacking towards their vocal fans behind the goal, as expected, they applied plenty of pressure in the early stages of the half and it proved to be a key time for the Rams to roll up their sleeves and protect their lead.
Warne responded by introducing Craig Forsyth off the bench in place of Barkhuizen just before the hour mark, which resulted in Haydon Roberts moving to wing-back and Forsyth taking his place on the left-side of the three-man central defence.
Sinclair headed over from close range as Derby continued to be pressed back and Warne opted to bring Max Bird, Louie Sibley and Harvey White off the bench in place of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, James Collins and Conor Hourihane to provide some fresh legs in key areas of the pitch.
Rovers substitute Ryan Loft blazed over with 20 minutes left after he controlled a ball over the top of Jake Rooney and shortly afterwards the young defender made way as the experienced Curtis Davies was introduced into the action for the closing stages.
Davies made a vital interception as Loft burst clear on goal with ten minutes to go with one of his first touches to keep Derby ahead. Using all his experience, he got to the ball first inside the box and managed to clear the danger.
Down the other end, the Rams nearly netted a second on the counter-attack with seven minutes to play. Substitute Lewis Dobbin’s excellent ball through the home defence saw McGoldrick weave his way into the box from the left and, when he got his shot away towards the near post, Belshaw was alert to push the ball behind for a corner.
McGoldrick also had a long-range free-kick saved with five to play and the latter stages of the 90 minutes and added time saw Derby under more pressure.
In the seven minutes of injury time a penalty was given for what was deemed to be a foul by White and Evans kept his cool to slot beyond Joe Wildsmith from 12 yards to deny Derby what would have been a hard-fought and excellent win on their travels.
Bristol Rovers: Belshaw (GK), Connolly, Gordon (Evans 72), Finley (C) (Coburn 72), Sinclair (Marquis 84), G Ward (McCormick 84), Collins, Gibson, Anderson (Loft 46), Bogarde, Hoole.
Substitutes Not Used: J Ward (GK), Gibbons.
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Hourihane (Bird 66), Cashin, Barkhuizen (Forsyth 59), Collins (White 66), McGoldrick (C), Mendez-Laing (Dobbin 66), Smith, Roberts, Rooney (Davies 74), Knight.
Substitutes Not Used: McGee (GK), Sibley.
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Derby will play their penultimate away fixture of the 2022/23 Sky Bet League One campaign on Tuesday night when they make the long journey to face Exeter City at St James Park (7:45pm kick-off).
