The F.A cup. No matter how hard the fools at the Football Association try and squeeze the spirit out of it by playing games over 45 consecutive days and 400 different TV channels, it is still the best cup competition in the world. Saturday at the iPro was proof.

Southport, 89 places below Derby in the pyramid, took us all the way to 90 mins and beyond to give 2,700 odd supporters in the away end a day to remember. A game that had almost everything that you envisage being part of a great cup-tie; heroic goalkeeping, desperate defending and a late twist in the tale.

I’ll start though at the beginning and with the pre-game chatter all about Bent and McClaren, it was nice to be able to get back to matters on the pitch. For what it’s worth, I think the former will prove to be an excellent signing and the latter prefers Newcastle Brown Ale to United!

Anyhow, the gaffer put down his pile of newspapers full of speculation long enough to pick a side showing nine changes to the side that easily beat Leeds, including first starts of the season for Naylor and Coutts.

Here was also a chance for Leon Best to show if conference opposition would be more his level…

An impressive crowd of over 20,000 saw the first-half chance fall to the visitors. A long-free kick should have been bread and butter for Naylor (who looks like he’d had too much of the previous) but his weak header back meant Roos had to be alert and smother. The towering Brodie then scuffed a shot for the visitors as the minnows started well.

Soon though the Rams began to assert control but lacked the killer final ball. Best had shown the hold-up skills of a brick wall while Naylor had played two, shall we say questionable balls, over the top of… everyone.

Finally, after Dawkins had shot wide, we created a genuine chance.

Ward, who had started slowly, beat his man down the right and crossed. Bryson took a touch and created the angle to drive across the goalkeeper only to see his shot come back off the far-post. Thankfully, the ball broke to a white shirt. Sadly, the person wearing it was Best, who showed the shooting skill of a blind sniper, taking a touch before hitting somebody in the top tier of the South Stand.

This though was the start of Rams domination for the rest of the half. Dawkins looked the most lively, twisting, turning but not finishing, again picking out some poor bugger in the crowd. It was obvious that we were missing our full-backs’ attacking prowess, with Shotton and Naylor more conservative with their runs as we had the ball in wide areas.

A glut of Rams corners followed, with Mascarell’s good delivery causing problems. Buxton and Best both went close but Southport manfully dug in.

Next, more good work from Dawkins allowed Coutts, revelling in his change from; ’that guy who plays 2 minutes at the end’, to let loose a pile driver from 25 yards. With the strike arrowing towards the top corner, visiting goalkeeper Raya Martin produced a stunning stop to turn the ball over. It was not to be his only involvement of the afternoon…

Next, more good work from Dawkins finally saw Naylor manage to find the energy to overlap, producing a fine chipped ball to the far-stick to find Shotton. Our new permanent acquisition should have celebrated with a goal, but instead showed he had been watching Best in training by heading wide.

There was still time for yet another move down the left again to almost break the deadlock. Dawkins again was the instigator, playing a nice reverse ball to Bryson, who took a touch before curling just wide of the far stick. Half-time and the travelling hoards gave heroes acclaim to their players - while we did the same for Leon Best… sort of…

What we needed was an early goal in the second half to get rid of any early nerves about a replay or even worse, appearing on ‘Greatest FA Cup Shocks Vol: IV’ for years to come.

We set about getting it from the off, with Ward’s low centre from the right just evading Best in the middle. More pressure then brought about another corner, with another fine delivery from Mascarell. This time, Buxton powered a header goal wards, only to see Reya Martin produce another fingertip save.

And then came the inevitable cover the eyes moment. After Brodie had headed a hanging ball straight at Roos, Southport began to believe. A corner was only half cleared away, resulting in desperate blocks from the Rams rear-guard. Immediately, there followed the sort of scramble which is seen in school playgrounds the world over each lunchtime, finally leading to the ball breaking to Kay, whose shot was in but for a last ditch block from Shotton.

As the yellows in the stands began to believe too, McClaren called for the cavalry.

With Martin, Ibe and Russell ready for action, we almost made them sit back down. Bryson’s ball up the line was held by Best. After a step-over (yes - without falling over!), Leon played the ball back to the Scot whose low drive was brilliantly kept out by the goalkeeper. From the rebound, Ward’s low shot was again brilliantly saved.

Another corner and another chance, this time, after keeping the ball alive, Ward and Keogh combined to find Dawkins, who drew yet another save from Reya Martin.

No goal - so the subs were on, resulting in a change in formation with Coutts at right-back. It seemed as if a corner would be the most likely source of a goal (something I thought I would never type as a Derby fan!) and sure enough, another chance came from one… but went away just as quickly.

Mascarell again found Buxton, whose header was saved yet again. The ball was pushed out to Keogh, whose scrambled shot went all the way to Martin. Putting the ball back into the box, I almost don’t have to say that the keeper saved… again.

Into the last 15 and suddenly the mood switched from relaxed to panicky in the stands. The stubbornness of Southport was beginning to grate on me, testament to how well they defended. Mascarell tried his luck twice from range, which was the equivalent tickling a grizzly bear, such was his form on the afternoon.

Ibe had shown that he had the pace to glide past the weary opposition defence, but was guilty of not finding the right final ball on too many occasions. I confess that I was convinced we were heading for a draw, following Coutt’s fine ball in from the right that was helped on, hit the keeper and flicked over.

Still, when Southport won a free kick near our box just as the board was going up for injury time, I was convinced that we were to be the headline and the recipient of the jokes on social media. I needn’t have worried. Buxton bravely met the ball and set up the counter attack that would break yellow hearts.

Bryson found Ibe again on the left and this time, after driving at the defence, the youngster did find the right ball, right into the path of Russell in the box. After a good first touch, Johnny was upended by a crude trip from behind from the Southport skipper. Begrudgingly, the referee took his time but eventually pointed to the spot.

Such was the way the afternoon had gone; you really felt Reya Martin was going to save from his namesake. Perhaps a tiny bit of me wouldn’t have begrudged him the glory.

More of me though was absolutely delighted to see Chris’ spot-kick nestle safely into the corner as Pride Park was suddenly very damp… mainly from the beads of sweat dropping from relieved brows!

There was barely time for our plucky underdogs to mount a response before full-time. As the Southport players fell to their knees, it almost felt dirty to be celebrating a win. After they had forced themselves up, shaken heads and headed over to their heartbroken supporters, there followed a touch of real class.

No stranger ourselves to, albeit, more of a heartbreaking last gasp defeat, a high number of Derby fans stayed, myself included, to applaud our visitors for their efforts.

An image that will stay with me for a long time and for the Southport players for a lot longer.

This was their Wembley and they had performed superbly.

And people say the F.A Cup is dead!?

Weston’s Player Ratings:

Kelle Roos — 7: Looked very solid as backup once again.

Ryan Shotton — 6: Still convinced he is a centre half who claims to play right back.

Richard Keogh — 7: Did what he had to do well.

Jake Buxton — 7: Very solid and looked a threat from every dead-ball.

Lee Naylor — 5: Looks like he doesn’t fit in with our quality of players.

Omar Mascarell — 7: Neat and tidy and good delivery from corners.

Paul Coutts — 6: Kept things ticking and will be better for the 90 mins.

Craig Bryson — 8: Along with Dawkins looked most likely to score.

Jamie Ward — 6: Maybe a bit sluggish but again will be better for the game.

Simon Dawkins — 8: Most likely - especially in the first half.

Leon Best — 5: If we all chip in, can we send him back?

Subs:

Derby County Polls