A penalty from Steve Davies in the 85th minute earned Derby a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Forest Green.
Forest Green denied historic FA Cup upset
A penalty from Steve Davies in the 85th minute earned Derby a hard-fought 4-3 victory over non-league minnows Forest Green.
Caretaker Rams manager Chris Hutchings will be able to breath a sigh of relief after seeing his side come from behind on more than one occasion to record an essential win.
Goals from Jonathan Smith and Alex Lawless had put Forest Green into an unlikely 2-0 lead early on before Derby struck back via headers from Rob Hulse and Martin Albrechtsen just before half time.
The second half began at a lower tempo than the barnstorming first, but it was to be Forest Green that would finally take the lead once again through Paul Stonehouse, only for the Gloucestershire side to witness Paul Green level the scores minutes later.
The defining moment though was to come in the closing stages - substitute Steve Davies dispatching the penalty for Derby after Alex Lawless saw red for scything down Kris Commons clear on goal.
Forest storm ahead
Derby have been desperately out of sorts in recent weeks and they almost went behind in the first minute when Adriano Rigoglioso forced Roy Carroll to make a sharp save.
The visitors looked vulnerable at the back and fell behind after 13 minutes when Albrechtsen's header fell into the path of Smith, who smashed a right-foot strike past Carroll from just outside the penalty area.
And there was worst to come for Hutchings' side when Forest Green doubled their lead seven minutes later.
The Derby defence failed to deal with Simon Clist's direct ball forward and Lawless slotted a right-foot finish past Carroll to stun the visitors.
But Derby got back into the game when Commons crossed from the right and Hulse forced Terry Burton to make a save, but prodded the rebound home.
And Albrechtsen headed Hutchings' side level on the stroke of half-time when he headed Commons' inviting cross home from point-blank range.
Derby almost caught the non-league side cold just after the break, but Luke Varney was denied by former soldier Burton in the Forest Green goal.
Hulse spurned two opportunities to put Derby in front when he lobbed over the top of the crossbar and then headed a free-kick from the dangerous Commons over the bar when unchallenged.
And the former Sheffield United frontman missed an even better opportunity on the hour-mark when he went through on goal following a pass from the increasingly influential Commons, but shot straight at Burton and Commons put the rebound wide.
Late drama
But with their first notable attack of the second half Rovers regained the lead with 18 minutes remaining.
Clist produced the assist from the left wing and Carroll failed to keep out full-back Stonehouse's shot from 20 yards out.
But Derby responded four minutes later when substitute Nacer Barazite's ball forward was flicked on by Hulse into the path of Green, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
And the comeback was complete three minutes from time when Commons raced towards goal and was upended by Lawless, who was shown a straight red card, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Davies kept his composure to ensure the Rams' name will be in the hat for the fourth round.
| Team Name |
Forest Green Rovers |
Derby County |
| Possession |
49% |
51% |
| Goals |
3 |
4 |
| Shots On Target |
5 |
13 |
| Shots Off Target |
1 |
8 |
| Blocked Shots |
1 |
2 |
| Corners |
4 |
3 |
| Fouls Conceded |
10 |
19 |
| Offsides |
4 |
1 |
| Yellow Cards |
1 |
3 |
| Red Cards |
1 |
0 |
|
