Brentford 1 Derby 0

Last updated : 04 January 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Brentford progressed into the fourth round of the FA Cup after securing a famous 1-0 home victory against a much-depleted Derby County side at Griffin Park.

The opening 15 minutes were very scrappy with neither side able to take the initiative.

The first effort on goal came in the 17th minute when Derby's Paul Boertien saw his 30-yard strike fly high over the bar.

The Rams should have taken the lead in the 35th minute. Michael Dobson appeared to have been fouled by Lee Morris following a cross from the right.

However, the referee waved play on and with only Paul Smith to beat, Morris saw his effort from inside the box hit the left-hand upright and rebound to safety.

A minute later the home side opened the scoring when Steve Hunt's free kick from the edge of the box appeared to go straight through keeper Lee Grant into the net.

A minute before the break Brentford almost extended their lead when Kevin O'Connor's low cross from the right found Steve Evans in the box and his first-time effort was brilliantly turned aside by Grant.

In the 55th minute the Bees almost made it 2-0 when a throughball by Martin Rowlands found Hunt in an onside position and his low strike from inside the box was saved low down by keeper Grant.

Brentford were reduced to ten men with 18 minutes left when Evans was sent off for his second bookable offence.

The Rams put the home side under severe pressure in the last ten minutes but the depleted Brentford defence was superbly marshalled by Scott Marshall and Ibrahim Sonko who kept them at bay.

In the dying moments O'Connor headed the ball off the line and Ian Evatt fired just wide from the edge of the box.