Davies shows the way as Rams battle on
DERBY County produced a dramatic late comeback to draw 2-2 with Reading, writes Steve Nicholson.
The draw extended the Rams’ unbeaten run to four games after they had won the prev ious three and they are continuing a spirited effort to get away from the bottom of the Championship table after the 21-point deduction handed out by the EFL.
The Rams found themselves two down at the Select Car Leasing Stadium when substitute Colin Kazim-richards pulled a goal back four minutes from time.
And Curtis Davies buried a header in added time to earn the Rams a point.
Derby were unchanged for the game, fielding the same 11 that started the 2-1 victory over Stoke City on Thursday but manager Wayne Rooney missed the match due to feeling unwell.
Rooney has tested negative for Covid-19 and has cold-like symptoms but followed the club’s Covid-19 protocols strictly and took the precautionary measure not to travel with the squad and staff.
He kept in touch with assistant manager Liam Rosenior and the coaching staff throughout the game from home.
This was Reading’s first game since they lost to West Bromwich Albion on December 11 and they forced Derby to dig in during the early minutes.
Craig Forsyth won three imporbyrne tant defensive headers with Reading striker Andy Carroll waiting to pounce and then Rams keeper Ryan Allsop made a brilliant save to prevent the Royals taking the lead.
John Swift crossed from Reading’s left and Carroll rose above Jason Knight to power in a header. Allsop reacted sharply, diving low to his right to save before Davies and Phil Jagielka combined to stop Junior Hoilett reaching the loose ball.
Derby saw more of the ball in the opening half an hour without producing a threat on Reading’s goal. The Rams’ first effort on target came when they moved the ball neatly though the thirds and Luke Plange’s deflected shot had Luke Southwood scrambling to push the ball behind for a corner.
Derby kept up the pressure and Kamil Jozwiak’s firm strike was deflected for another corner.
The Rams had grown into the game – only to go behind eight minutes before half-time.
Carroll used his height to flick the ball on to Hoilett, who controlled it and moved away from Nathan to curl the ball right-footed from 20 yards high, across and beyond Allsop’s dive and into the net. It was a wonderful finish.
The goal came when Derby were on top and looking confident. They tried to hit back immediately but Plange headed over from a corner.
The Rams had 63% possession in the opening 45 minutes but they did not do enough with it. The cutting edge needed to be sharper.
They made a quick start to the second half.
Byrne whipped in a testing centre that invited a team-mate to connect with it but none did. Liam Thompson’s drive was blocked and, as the Rams continued to press, Southwood produced a fine reflex save to deny Tom Lawrence.
It had been another good spell from the Rams but, as in the first half, they conceded when on top.
Reading were awarded a free kick, which was delivered deep into Derby’s area, where Carroll headed back across goal to the far post.
Knight struggled to reach the ball and could have done better defensively. Hoilett was there to squeeze his finish low past Allsop and the Royals had doubled their lead after 56 minutes.
Carroll’s aerial strength had played a key part in both goals to leave Derby with a mountain to climb.
They sent on Festy Ebosele and Kazim-richards and made their third and final change when Ravel Morrison came on for Knight after 67 minutes.
With time running out and Derby staring defeat in the face, they showed terrific fighting spirit to hit back with two late goals to grab a draw.
Kazim-richards bundled the ball home after Southwood missed Max Bird’s high centre – the striker’s third goal in as many games and all when coming off the bench – and then, in added time, Davies popped up to head in Byrne’s cross.