Derby County exited the Emirates FA Cup with a 3-1 First Round Replay defeat to Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday night.
Tom Barkhuizen put the Rams in front early doors at Pride Park Stadium but the visitors fought back with a brace from Aaron Rowe and a header from Mickey Demetriou securing their passage into the Second Round and a home tie against Bristol Rovers next month.
Key Moments
It was a perfect start for the Rams who took the lead within the opening three minutes. Louie Sibley dispossessed his man in the area and laid off Barkhuizen who made no mistake from close range.
But we were all square within the opening seven. Rowe picked up the ball on halfway and was afforded far too much space to run before firing a dart of an effort beyond Joe Wildsmith from distance.
The visitors were nearly in front soon after but for an outstanding save from Wildsmith. Joe White fired a rocket of a free-kick that looked destined for the top corner but Wildsmith's fingertips were able to tip wide.
The goal more than lifted Crewe who took a deserved lead after 21 minutes through Rowe who bagged his second of the evening. A loose pass from Conor Hourihane was picked up by the winger whom again took fly from range but this time his effort was deflected and wrong-footed Wildsmith before dropping into the net.
Derby had their goalkeeper to thank for not conceding a third before the break after he pulled off another sublime save. Charlie Finney got down the left and stood up a cross for Courtney Baker-Richardson who headed towards the bottom corner but Wildsmith somehow got down to tip around his post and keep the Rams in it.
Crewe stopper Harvey Davies then pulled off an equally impressive save up the other end to deny James Collins an equaliser. Kane Wilson got down the right and crossed for Collins who headed towards goal but had his effort tipped wide for a corner.
Max Bird was inches away from an equaliser just before the break when he took aim from range and rattled the crossbar via the fingertips of Davies.
The visitors added to their advantage after the break through defender Mickey Demetriou. He rose highest from a corner and directed a bullet header beyond Wildsmith to give the Rams a mountain to climb with 30 minutes remaining.
Baker-Richardson forced Wildsmith into a comfortable save as the Railwaymen continued to push in an attempt to kill the game off.
Rams' number one Wildsmith was superb on the night and denied substitute Shilow Tracey with his legs after he'd been slipped through on goal by Joe White.
Derby huffed and puffed in the closing stages but were unable to muster another late fightback as they exited the FA Cup.
The Teams
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Wilson, Forsyth (83' Bradley), Hourihane (C) (83' Fapetu), Cashin, Barkhuizen, Bird, Collins, Smith (66' Waghorn), Sibley (59' Ward), Nelson.
Substitutes not used: Vickers (GK), Robinson, Cox, Brown, Weston.
Crewe Alexandra: Davies (GK), Cooney, Billington, Demetriou, Offord (C), Finney (52' Thomas), White, Colkett (52' Tracey), Rowe, Baker-Richardson, Adebisi.
Substitutes not used: Booth, Agius, Nolan, Robinson.
What's Next Up?
The Rams aren't back in action until Saturday 25th November due to the international break when they will take on Bristol Rovers at Pride Park in Sky Bet League One (3pm kick-off).
