3/1 To Win
Duane Holmes put in a man of the match performance to help Derby County earn a 2-2 draw against Premier League side Southampton in the FA Cup Third Round and said the side showed 'great character' to fight back.
Nathan Redmond fired the visitors into a 2-0 lead with strikes early in both halves - however the Rams fought back to earn a draw after goals from Jack Marriott and Tom Lawrence either side of the hour mark.
The 24-year-old attacking midfielder praised the side’s desire to not give up and fight for a result.
Derby will now face a replay and head to the South Coast in the week commencing Monday 14th January.
Speaking to RamsTV, Holmes said: “I think in the first-half, apart from the goal at the start, it was very even. We had a couple of good chances and I think a draw was a fair result in the end.
“We were disappointed to go two goals down, they were two very avoidable goals, but I think we showed great character to come back.
“We are full of character and we have shown that plenty of times this season and we have come back again.”
Striker David Nugent was a catalyst for Derby’s comeback after coming off the bench early in the second half and forcing even more energy into the side.
However, it was Holmes that began the build up to the first goal with a clever pass down to Lawrence, who flicked the ball over to Marriott to fire home.
After drawing level through Lawrence's stunning effort from distance both sides had chances to find the winner.
Goalkeeper Kelle Roos made a couple of good saves to keep the Rams in it before Marriott, with the best chance, fired just over after being fed in the box by Nugent.
Holmes said: “There was a big momentum swing after the first goal. Nuge made a big difference coming on, we all know what he is good at. We played to that and thankfully it worked.
"We are just a bit disappointed not to get the third goal, we had a great chance at the end and I know on any other day, Jack scores that. We are going to go there full of confidence and try to get a win.
“We have beaten a Premier League team in the cup already this season, I felt like we were good enough to do it again today but unfortunately we just didn’t get the goals.”
Derby will now switch their attention back to the Sky Bet Championship to prepare for a trip to Elland Road to face table-toppers Leeds United.
Next Friday night’s game will set up a busy week for the Rams who will now play three matches in the space of eight days with two league fixtures and their FA Cup replay.
Holmes added: “It’s about recovering now, and it is a big game against Leeds – one that we are hoping to get a result from.”
