Derby County bowed out of the Carabao Cup against Barrow as their Round Two tie was settled through penalties following a 0-0 draw on Tuesday night.
After playing out a tense full 90 minutes at Holker Street, with both sides coming close before the final whistle, the game was decided from the penalty spot with the Sky Bet League Two side progressing to Round Three of the competition as the shootout finished 3-2 to Barrow.
Derby came into the match looking to get back to winning ways after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat on the road against Watford in the Sky Bet Championship. Meanwhile, Barrow came into the tie off the back of a 4-0 home win against Port Vale in league action.
Derby held possession through the opening stages of the game, as the Rams looked to build up on the right-hand flank and new signing Tawanda Chirewa looked to familiarise himself with his new team-mates.
Chirewa was involved in Derby’s first chance of the game as he teed up Joe Ward on the right wing to play a dangerous early ball into the box for James Collins to meet. However, the striker’s head could only direct the ball onto the roof of the net.
Barrow’s first chance of the game came through midfielder Sam Foley in the 22nd minute, who swung at the ball from the edge of the box and saw it fly over the top of the crossbar.
Jacob Zetterström pulled off an impressive save in the 38th minute after Ged Garner’s acrobatic effort on the turn looked to be the chance that would break the deadlock, but the Derby goalkeeper was alive to the danger and got down to the ball well.
The Rams' best chance of the half came in the 44th minute. Ward played another threatening cross into the box and found Tom Barkhuizen in space. Goalkeeper Paul Farman saved the Derby attacker’s header and the ball was scrambled off the line before an onrushing Collins could have an effect.
Paul Warne made three changes at half-time as the scores remained level, with Chirewa, Barkhuizen and Kenzo Goudmijn making way for Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, David Ozoh and Kayden Jackson.
The substitutes combined as midfielder Ozoh played a driven pass towards Jackson who was running in behind in the 48th minute. Jackson struck the ball first time with the side of his boot and sent it looping and onto the top of the Barrow net.
Zetterström was crucial for Derby again in the 55th minute, as Dom Telford set up Garner for a strike down low, but the effort was matched by the Swedish shot-stopper.
Mendez-Laing came close as he sent a fizzling strike towards the top corner of Farman’s net in the 57th minute. Impressive work from Ebou Adams in midfield won the ball back to set up Mendez-Laing who cut inside on the wing to send the ball goalwards, but the Barrow goalkeeper was equal to the strike.
Warne performed another roll of the dice after an hour of play as striker Dajaune Brown was introduced to the field of play to take the place of midfielder Liam Thompson.
Derby made a breakaway in the 67th minute as Kayden Jackson had Ben Jackson backpedalling towards his goal. The Derby winger struck the ball hard and low towards the near post, but a deflection off the underside of his opposite number’s leg sent the ball wide of the post.
Ryan Nyambe replaced Ward in the 72nd minute, and the right-back was immediately involved for the Rams as he set up Jackson to send a cross into a packed penalty area, but Barrow full-back Neo Eccleston headed firmly clear.
The home team had their closest chance of the half when Emile Acquah’s diving header sent Zetterström into action as he got his body behind the ball.
Collins had a sure-fire shooting chance denied by some impressive work by Barrow defender Jackson in the 82nd minute. Derby had built a quick attack that broke up the host’s shape and looked to be a golden chance, but Jackson’s work denied Collins.
Barrow were then the ones to threaten as substitute Kian Spence sent a free kick arrowing off the upright from 25 yards out in the 85th minute.
The final whistle went with the score at 0-0 and the game was settled on penalties with James Collins firing over, Kayden Jackson hitting the woodwork and Craig Forsyth seeing his spot-kick saved for Derby. Barrow, meanwile, scored three of their four penalties to win the tie.
Derby County Starting XI: Zetterström (GK), Ward (Nyambe 72), Nelson, Bradley, Forsyth, Goudmijn (Ozoh 46), Adams, Chirewa (Mendez-Laing 46), Thompson (Brown 60), Barkhuizen (Jackson 46), Collins.
Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK), Elder, Yates, Washington.
Barrow Starting XI: Farman (GK), Eccleston, Campbell (Gotts 78), Canavan, Garner (Acquah 66), Newby, Foley, Kouyate (Worrall 84), Telford (Spence 66), Jackson, Vassell.
Unused Substitutes: Stanway (GK), Dallas, Tiensia, Etaluku.
3,003 (718 away)
The Rams will be back in action on Saturday 31st August when they welcome Bristol City to Pride Park Stadium in the Sky Bet Championship.
