Derby grab spoils amid high drama

Seven goals, a floodlight failure, the lead changing hands twice, this was high drama, the likes of which few have seen wrapped in one game.

Frank Lampard admitted he was hoping the game would be called off and replayed when his Derby side went 3-2 down with nine minutes to go and a fuse blew, putting one corner of the ground into darkness.

Norwich romped to an early twogoal lead through Teemu Pukki and Ben Godfrey and looked comfortable before Derby tightened up and got back on level terms through Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount, both from corners. Pukki put the home side back in front just before the lights failed and referee David Webb took the teams off the pitch. It was at this point Derby manager Lampard looked for a replay.

“It was pretty straightforward in the end,” said Lampard. “I did look at ways of having it replayed but thank goodness I didn’t and it worked for us. It worked in our favour as it allowed us to make changes and get David Nugent on and he was pivotal in both goals.

“The game had absolutely everything. I have never been involved in anything like this, with the turnaround and the lights and then five minutes of time added on. It was pretty straightforward in the end. I did look at having it replayed but thank goodness I didn’t and it worked for us.”

Nugent played a part in both Derby goals as the wily old striker was pivotal Goals scored in the past five league games at Carrow Road, of which Norwich have won three, drawn one and now lost one. Daniel Farke’s side have scored 16 of those goals. in the build-up for the Rams’ leveller by Florian Jozefzoon who tucked away from six yards

Jack Marrott’s persistence paid off as he bettered Christoph Zimmermann and clinched the win, although Jordan Rhodes hit the crossbar for Norwich and Carson made a top save to deny Todd Cantwell in the final 10 seconds.

Norwich boss Daniel Farke is usually the beneficiary of late fightbacks and admitted the delay made the difference. “When we went 3-2 up we had the momentum,” said Farke. “If we played on we would have the game but the break affected us.

“We are not using as it an excuse but I’m sure we would have won. We should have been more switched on. It was a situation we could not influence.

“It is hard to accept after being so much on top we didn’t get a point. Even then we could have got a draw when Jordan Rhodes hit the bar from five yards.”