Southampton res 3 1 Rams res
Southampton: - Poke, Nilsson, Van Damme, Baird, Davenport, Cranie, Gillett (Anaclet 71), Best (Critchell 82), Pahars (McGoldrick 45), Folly, Fernandes.
Unused subs: - James, McNeil.
Rams: - Richardson, Booth, Nyatanga, Turner, Martin, Young, Barnes, Doyle, Llewellyn, Holmes, Davis.
Unused subs: - Nix, Cann, Meredith, Hanson.
With the seniors facing a vital game this evening against Leicester Steve Taylor unsurprisingly named arguably his least experienced starting line-up of the campaign for Derby’s’ last away trip of the season.
Southampton on the other hand needing as many fit bodies as possible for heir relegation struggle in the Premiership turned out a starting eleven packed with experience.
Although the result may have looked a forgone conclusion from the very off the Rams fought to the end and were never overrun.
Saints took the lead 7 minutes into the game when Leon Best headed in a cross from the right.
Derby, however, were back on terms 4 minutes later as Giles Barnes fired home an unstoppable free kick from 20 yards,
Although the visiting defence was struggling to contain the ariel power of Best they refused to crumble and could have taken the lead during their best spell of the night when Josh Llewellyn, playing as a lone striker in front of Lee Holmes, was unlucky to see his looping header tipped over the bar on 35 minutes.
3 minutes later the hosts struck again with Marian Pahars firing home from 15 yards.
Still Derby refused to buckle and it took until the hour mark before they scored their third and final goal as David McGoldrick was given too much space to curt into the box before beating Liam Richardson at his near post.
The Rams had one last chance to pull something back when Richard Davis volleyed across the face of goal with 20 minutes remaining.