Two penalty saves by Lewis Price coupled with four deadeye dick finishes saw the Rams through to the fourth round of the FA Cup at Hillsborough.

Relief at last for the players, the fans but perhaps most of all for Paul Jewell as Derby finally get a win under their belt albeit after extra time and penalties. And if the margin of victory was narrow then that reflects highly on a determined Sheffield Wednesday side who fought to the bitter end.

A damp and drizzly night, vacuous terraces, welcome to the magic of the FA Cup.

Derby, black shirts, white shorts start strongly, we look in control. Looks though are deceiving. Against the run of play the Owls score. Simplicity. Cross from the right, Watson behind Leacock, in front of Edworthy, unmarked, turns the ball home with a first time touch.

One should have been two. Sodje running though a static rearguard tangles with Price, the keeper sliding out on a greasy surface catches the striker. Sodje to his absolute credit tries to stay upright. We breathe again.

Second half and the Rams are fired. Miller turns home in almost exactly the same spot as Watson earlier. Then it gets nasty. Todd is first into the book, quickly followed by Leacock for dissent, Nyatana for a clumsy late challenge and Edworthy who was lucky to escape a straight red  for holding back Johnson when the speedy striker was the last man.

Add a mass brawl which brought two more yellows Spurr and Pearson and you get the picture.

Davis belied his recent critics with an impeccably timed tackle in the box reminiscent of Dave Mackay at his best.

Wednesday created more but lacked a finish whilst Derby eventually found the composure to play the ball to feet and keep possession.

Extra time came and went with the conclusion that the Rams were the fitter of the two sides and then those penalties.

For the record, Glenn Whelan took the first straight down the middle and Lewis Price halted his dive enough to palm the ball into the air.

Miller coolly sent Grant the wrong way to put the Rams one up. Our delight increased as Lunt, placed his penalty well but lacked power and Price guessing correctly made an easy save.

Having to rely on an ex-Leeds player, we feared the worse but Lewis, power, precision perfection, two up.

Ex Ram Tudgay pulled one back firing high into the corner before we were treated to the stammering stuttering run up of Earnshaw, we almost joined him on the pitch as we leans forward and back as he ran in, or so it seemed. Earnie made no mistake though and Derby were 3-1 up.

Another ex player Deon Burton showed he could finish with a good penalty, leaving Craig Fagan with the glory of the winning fourth penalty.

Fourth round of the FA Cup here we come.

Sheffield Wednesday: Grant, Bullen (C), Beevers, Hinds, Spurr, Whelan, Johnson, Watson (Lunt 50), Small (Burton 80), Tudgay, Sodje (Clarke 70).
Subs not used: Gilbert, Wood.

Derby: Price, Edworthy, Leacock (Moore 82), Davis, Nyatanga, Teale (Earnshaw 105), Todd (C), Pearson, Barnes (Lewis 42), Miller, Fagan.
Subs not used: Hinchliffe (GK), Macken.

Attendance: 18,020.

Photo: Action Images

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