Derby County moved into the second round of the League Cup courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Carlisle United at Brunton Park this evening.
Both sides hit the crossbar before the deadlock was broken shortly after the hour mark when Jeff Hendrick nodded in at the back post from close range.
The result was finally put to bed deep into stoppage time as Chris Martin flicked the ball into the bottom corner to send the Rams into the next round.
You can see how an entertaining encounter unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute coverage below.
Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's League Cup first round encounter between Carlisle United and Derby County at Brunton Park. The domestic campaign is well and truly underway after the Football League kicked off at the weekend, and tonight the cup competitions begin as well. We should be in line for an entertaining clash and quite possibly a major upset, with a League Two side hosting one from the Championship. Let's start with a look at the two line-ups...
CARLISLE STARTING XI: Gillespie; Thirlwell, Meppen-Walter, O'Hanlon, Symington, Robson, Sweeney, Kearns, Potts, Dempsey, Paynter
CARLISLE SUBS: Hanford, Grainger, Marrow, Dicker, Gillies, Brough, Elliott
DERBY STARTING XI: Grant; Christie, Keogh, Whitbread, Forsyth, Hughes, Bryson, Hendrick, Ward, Dawkins, Martin
DERBY SUBS: Roos, Freeman, Sammon, Russell, Eustace, Mascarell, Best
So, what can we make of those two teams? Well, Carlisle have made four changes to the side that was beaten by Luton on Saturday, with Thirlwell, Sweeney, Dempsey and Kearns coming into the starting lineup. Stephen Elliott is made to wait for his first start, while Archibald-Henville is serving the second of a three-match ban carried over from last season.
Derby, meanwhile, make just the two changes from the side that ran out against Rotherham at the weekend. Whitbread, as expected, comes in for Buxton, who has been struggling with injury of late. The defender did come through Saturday's match unscathed, but two games in such quick succession was too much for him. Ward also comes into the starting XI, with Russell the man to make way.
That also means that summer signings Best and Mascarell will be forced to wait even longer for their first starts for the club, as they are once again named on the bench. Steve McClaren must surely have considered starting the duo in what looks on paper like a relatively straightforward match, but he has opted against blooding his new boys just yet.
Carlisle are certainly the underdogs coming into this match, and they did their confidence no favours at the weekend by losing 1-0 to Luton Town. The Cumbrians were favourites for that encounter having dropped down from League One last season, but newly-promoted Luton held out under some heavy second-half pressure to record an impressive opening-day victory.
Carlisle finish last season 22nd in League Two, five points adrift of safety as they dropped into the fourth tier of English football. It was their lack of goals that proved to be the major problem as they netted just 43 times in their 46 league outings - the lowest tally in the division. It is an issue they will need to rectify this season, although a club like Derby is perhaps not the most likely opposition for that to happen against.
Having said that, Carlisle do have a good record against the Rams over the years. They did lose the last meeting 1-0, which was enough for Derby to make it into the third round of the League Cup on aggregate, but before that Carlisle had not been beaten by tonight's opponents for 13 matches. That will all count for little tonight, however, as that last meeting came 24 years ago in 1990.
Looking at the more recent past, the Cumbrians reached the second round of this competition last season before they were thrashed 5-2 by Leicester City, a result that contributed heavily towards their defensive record of having conceded 11 goals in their last three League Cup matches against opposition from a higher division. On the other hand, they did manage to overcome Championship opposition in the first round last season as well, beating Blackburn Rovers on penalties after a 3-3 draw.
Incidentally, Derby's League Cup journey was also ended by Leicester last season, with the Foxes running out 2-1 winners in the third round. Derby had beaten Brentford 5-0 and Oldham 1-0 in the opening two rounds, but were stopped by Nigel Pearson's men, who went on to be promoted to the Premier League as champions of the second tier. The Rams have progressed from their last two League Cup matches against teams from lower leagues, but were eliminated in the four prior to that.
Last season was a case of mixed emotions for Steve McClaren's side. They strung together some fine form once the former England man took over at the iPro Stadium, eventually finishing third in the league to clinch a place in the playoffs. Brighton & Hove Albion were brushed aside in the semi-finals, but there was heartbreak at Wembley as Bobby Zamora scored a 90th-minute winner to hand Queens Park Rangers victory in the richest match in football.
Hopes are high that the Rams can go one better this time around, and they got their season off to a winning start on Saturday courtesy of a late Jeff Hendrick goal to beat Rotherham United 1-0. Goals were certainly not a problem for Derby last season as they top-scored in the Championship with 84, but defensively they were weak and that is an area of the game that McClaren will have worked hard on improving over the summer.
They enjoyed a decent pre-season too, winning five of their eight outings. During that time they also only tasted defeat once, losing 2-0 to Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg. The quality of opposition was not the greatest in their other warm-up friendlies, it must be said, but McClaren will be the first to tell you that the real business has only just begun.
PREDICTION: Right, we're just under five minutes from kickoff at Brunton Park, so it is about time I made my prediction. Derby may have needed a late goal to beat Rotherham at the weekend, and it wasn't as convincing a result as some expected, but I don't see them slipping up tonight. Carlisle are going through a tough patch right now and, although they do have home advantage, I can't see them knocking out Championship opposition in the first round two years in a row. I'll go for 3-1 to Derby.
These two sides have only ever met twice in the League Cup before, with both games coming in a two-legged tie in 1990. As alluded to earlier, it was Derby who came out on top on that occasion, winning the second leg 1-0 after the first ended as a 1-1 draw to move into the third round.
KICKOFF: Here we go then! The 2014-15 League Cup gets underway as Carlisle kick us off at Brunton Park, looking to spring an early shock against Derby County.
Decent start from the hosts as they see a lot of the ball early on. They win an early free kick that is easy for Grant to claim, giving Derby their first real chance to get hold of the ball.
Both sides seem to just be feeling each other out in the opening exchanges, with the game being played at a pretty slow pace. There hasn't been a sniff of a chance so far, but there is still plenty of time for things to liven up at Brunton Park.
Derby are starting to see a bit more of the ball now, with Hendrick - their match-winner at the weekend - seeing a shot from range blocked. That was the toughest test yet for Carlisle's defence this evening, and they held firm. Still, the players in front of their backline need to try to prevent the Rams getting too comfortable on the ball, otherwise it could be a long night for the hosts.
Nice play from Carlisle as Kearns comes forward down the right flank. He cuts inside and makes his way into the area, but his low cross is cleared. From the resulting throw another cross comes in, but Paynter's header is too weak to trouble the keeper.
More promising play from the hosts as Thirlwell wins the ball back with a fine tackle, allowing his side to break quickly. Dempsey leads the charge before letting fly from range, but he was off balance and skewed his effort well off target.
CHANCE! The biggest chance of the match so far falls to the visitors as Forsyth marauds forward down the left flank, making his way into the box and exchanging passes with a teammate before drawing a good save from Gillespie. Decent opening for the Rams.
Derby have had 62% of possession in this opening quarter of an hour or so, but it must be said that they haven;t used it too well. That Forsyth chance remains their only sight of goal so far, and they have struggled to even make it into the final third other than that. There are ominous signs that they are starting to get a hold of this match, though.
Decent break from Carlisle as Dempsey is alert to a flick-on. He finds himself in a good position down the left channel before cutting inside and sending a deflected shot over the bar for a corner, which comes to nothing.
Hint of a chance for Sweeney as the ball drops to him inside the box. He misses his first kick and gets a second attempt, but the defender just did enough to deny the Carlisle man. It was good work from Dempsey again that set up that chance, and he looks like the hosts' brightest player at the moment.
Carlisle are temporarily down to 10 men as Sean O'Hanlon is forced off the field with blood streaming from his head. It is too much for them to deal with on the touchline, so he trots down the tunnel for a bit more treatment. He looks like he will be able to continue, but there is a lot of blood there.
Derby look to take advantage of that numerical advantage, but Meppen-Walters makes a few important interceptions in quick succession to deny the visitors. He was man of the match at the weekend and needed to be at his best there. Good defending.
SAVE! Very important touch from Gillespie as he gets a hand to a dangerous low cross from Forsyth. There were no yellow shirts able to get onto the end of it as the ball rolled to safety and was eventually cleared. Derby are looking increasingly threatening here, though.
Still no O'Hanlon for Carlisle, who are starting to struggle with just 10 men. Derby have taken complete control of the ball in the last few minutes and are making inroads up front. The hosts need their defender back on as soon as possible.
Derby win a free kick in a good crossing position, but Paynter manages to get it away from inside his own box. It is backs-to-the-wall stuff for the hosts at the moment, who keep glancing to the touchline to see if there is any sign of O'Hanlon returning, no doubt sporting the Terry Butcher look.
CHANCE! O'Hanlon finally gets back on the field, but before he can get into position Derby have another chance. It was Dawkins who had the initial shot that was blocked by a defender, with the ball falling to Hendrick on the edge of the box. He is in acres of space but seems to be too casual, putting a terrible effort well off target.
Graham Kavanagh will be delighted with how his side held out with just 10 men on the field, but Derby are showing no signs of letting up now that O'Hanlon is back on the pitch. The Championship side are in control at the moment, and it appears to be a matter of time before they make the breakthrough.
CHANCES! Two big chances in quick succession for the visitors! Christie's ball into the box is inviting enough for Ward to attack, and he rises really well to plant a firm header towards the bottom corner. Gillespie gets down well to make the save, but he can only parry it back to Ward, who fires it narrowly wide from a tight angle.
CHANCE! Another huge chance for Derby, but once again Gillespie is there to make the save. Ward floats a cross to the back post for Martin, who has peeled off his man and is unmarked. He gets a decent amount of power behind his diving header, but the Carlisle keeper is there to make a very good stop from point-blank range. He has kept his side in this match so far.
Carlisle make an increasingly rare foray forward, but Derby soon deal with the danger as Grant comes out to claim a cross above Paynter. It looked for a moment like the Carlisle striker would reach that before the keeper, but it was just too high for him.
The visitors have certainly upped the tempo as the half has gone on, and Carlisle have struggled to deal with it at times. They continue to hold firm defensively, with Gillespie in particular making some crucial stops, but it would be a surprise if they could keep Derby at bay all night long.
Carlisle are not parking the bus by any means. Every chance they get to pour men forward they are doing so, and that has to be respected. However, Derby are enjoying the lion's share of possession and the hosts may be well served just getting their foot on the ball for a longer period when they do win it back.
Referee Darren Bond hands out his first major warning of the match as Paynter goes into a heavy challenge. It was a poor one, but the ref is right not to produce a card for the Carlisle striker.
Carlisle will be happy to hold out until half time now. It has been a tough opening 45 minutes for them, and they will be delighted - and a little lucky - to go in all square here.
OFF THE BAR! Derby are so close to ensuring that they do break the deadlock before the interval, but Martin can only find the top of the bar. The ball bounced through to the striker down the left channel and this time he does manage to beat the keeper, but his half-volley kisses the top of the woodwork on it's way over. He probably should have scored there.
There will be just the one minute of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: Carlisle 0-0 Derby
The referee brings an end to the first half at Brunton Park, and hosts Carlisle have managed to keep it goalless until the break. They have a combination of the keeper, the woodwork and some questionable finishing to thank for that, but they remain very much in this match and will look to push on more in the second half to provide a shock in this League Cup opener.
Unsurprisingly, the best chances have fallen to Derby, who really should be ahead at the interval. The clearest opening of the lot was probably Martin's header as he was left unmarked at the back post to go for goal from close range. Gillespie was out quickly to make a very good stop, however, keeping the scores level with the best of the saves so far.
It was a busy 45 minutes for Gillespie, who has denied Forsyth twice and also kept Ward at bay. The latter chance was another clear one as the Derby man attacked the ball really well to win a header in the box before putting the rebound wide of the far post from a very tight angle.
Hendrick has also squandered a good opening, but the closest we have come to a goal so far came right at the end of the half as Martin struck the woodwork. This time the striker did manage to get it past Gillespie, but he couldn't keep his half-volley down as it grazed the top of the crossbar and went over. In truth, Martin should have done better with both of his chances so far tonight, but he will be keen to ensure the second half is a little more successful for both himself and his team.
As far as Carlisle are concerned, it has been slim pickings for the hosts going forward. They started fairly brightly, but lost Sean O'Hanlon for a significant chunk of the first half as he received treatment for a head injury. That seemed to give Derby the impetus to really take control of the match and, while Carlisle did manage to hold out with 10 men on the field, they haven't quite been able to find a rhythm since.
However, Graham Kavanagh will be telling his side that, as long as the scores remain level, they are still in with a chance of springing a major upset here tonight. If they can hold firm defensively then anything can happen from a set piece or a counter-attack during the latter stages.
KICKOFF: We're back underway against at Brunton Park, with Derby kicking off the second half. The Championship outfit dominated the first half without finding the net - can they finally break the deadlock in the coming 45 minutes?
Almost a perfect start for the visitors as Dawkins races down the left before putting a dangerous low cross into the box. Potts is back-tracking into his own area and almost gifts the ball to a yellow shirt, but just manages to keep his composure before clearing the danger.
Much better from the hosts as they keep the ball for a while before breaking down the left. A fine turn from Kearns sends him down the flank, but he does one too many step-overs and ends up falling over the ball.
YELLOW CARD! The first card of the night is shown to Thirlwell, who flew into a challenge late there. The veteran has no complaints, and rightly so - it was a poor tackle.
CHANCE! Superb football from Derby as they break forward with some lovely one-touch passing. The move slows down slightly as Dawkins twists and turns on the right before he slides the ball to Forsyth. The left-back stands a cross in for Ward, who rises well but plants a header straight at the keeper. Great move, but the finish was just lacking.
SAVE! Another save for Gillespie, but this is another straightforward one. Bryson goes for the long-range effort, but he can only curl it straight at the keeper, who holds on.
SAVE! And again! It is Dawkins who threatens this time, cutting in from the left onto his favoured right foot. He curls an effort towards the far corner, but it is a nice height for the keeper to make the save.
SAVE! It is going to take something out of the ordinary to beat Gillespie tonight, and that is almost what happens here. Forsyth goes to whip the ball in from the left but mis-hits his cross, forcing the keeper to adjust quickly and tip the ball over the top.
I'm not sure how much longer Carlisle can hold out here. Derby are really knocking on the door and it is surely only a matter of time before they make the breakthrough. Gillespie is doing all he can to keep them at bay, but he can't do it all night...can he?
Half a chance for Carlisle as they win the ball in a good position before breaking into a three-on-two position, They don't make the most of it as the ball is cleared, but they are then awarded a free kick in a very dangerous position...
OFF THE BAR! Oh my word, the hosts come within inches of breaking the deadlock against the run of play in spectacular fashion. It was Symington who took the free kick, firing it towards goal with pace, power and curl. However, Grant is across to make a sensational save and turn it onto the bar.
GOAL! Carlisle 0-1 Derby (Jeff Hendrick)
Moments after Carlisle almost take the lead, Derby finally do make the breakthrough as Hendrick nods in from close range. A corner was flicked on high towards the back post, where Hendrick found himself unmarked from close range. He simply couldn't miss this time, nodding past the keeper and the man on the line to get his second goal in as many games. It had certainly been coming.
You can't say that Derby don't deserve this lead, and they didn't even let that Carlisle free kick hurt their dominance. They went straight up the other end and put the pressure on once again, and that finally told with the goal from Hendrick. Carlisle can have no complaints whatsoever.
The visitors don't seem to be content with their one-goal lead either. They continue to push forward for a second, and the way things are going you wouldn't bet against them getting one.
Having said that, Carlisle are beginning to pose more of an attacking threat now. The hosts have no choice but to throw caution to the wind in this final 20 minutes, and they are looking to catch the Rams on the break whenever they can. This game is not over as a contest just yet!
DERBY SUBS: Double change for the visitors as Dawkins and Ward make way to be replaced by Johnny Russell and new boy Leon Best.
CARLISLE SUB: The hosts also make a change as Stephen Elliott replaces Billy Paynter. Can the new signing make a difference in this final 20 minutes or so?
Carlisle will need to come up with something different if they are to salvage something from this match now. Grant has only been tested once - from the free kick that was tipped onto the crossbar - and that shot aside the Derby defence has had an easy time of things.
CARLISLE SUB: Another change for the hosts as Thirlwell goes off to be replaced by Alex Marlow. The departing skipper hands the armband to O'Hanlon.
SHOT! Decent spell for Carlisle as they put a few crosses into the box that Derby are just about able to clear. They then come even closer as Dempsey chests the ball down for Elliott, who puts a volley narrowly wide from 25 yards.
SHOT! Christie comes forward down the right for Derby and is not stopped as he cuts inside onto his left. He dribbles across the edge of the box briefly before firing a shot wide of the far post.
SAVE! Good play from Best as he makes room for the shot down the right channel of the area. He drills a powerful low shot towards the far corner, but Gillespie gets an important hand on it to push it wide.
CARLISLE SUB: Third and final change for the hosts as Patrick Brough replaces Kearns for the final eight minutes of normal time.
Carlisle have shown enough signs in the last 10 minutes or so that this game is not dead and buried just yet. Derby may need to defend stoutly or get a second goal to ensure the victory that they deserve.
Nice play from Best as he rolls his marker and turns into a good position. He unselfishly looks for Martin, who just takes too long over his shot and sees it blocked. That was a very promising position for the visitors and they should have made more of it.
The rain really is pouring down now in Brunton Park - not exactly the August weather a lot of the players will have been hoping for. The ball a pitch will be getting increasingly slippery, which could play a pivotal part in these final stages.
Symington has already come close with one spectacular effort and he tries to do it again here, picking up a loose ball inside the Derby box before driving forward with purpose. He gets into shooting range before firing an effort a yard or two over the top.
There will be FOUR minutes of added time at Brunton Park - still time for Carlisle to get an unlikely equaliser.
Another chance for Derby to put this game to bed as Best holds the ball up well before again giving it to Martin. However, the conditions play their part as the Derby striker slips when about to pull the trigger.
GOAL! Carlisle 0-2 Derby (Chris Martin)
The visitors finally get the killer goal as Martin opens his account for the season with arguably his hardest chance of the match. The ball arrived low and at pace from the right, and the prolific striker just helped it on the way into the bottom corner. Very smart finish, and the keeper had no chance this time. Derby can breathe a little more easily now.
FULL TIME: Carlisle United 0-2 Derby County
Derby do indeed progress into the second round of the League Cup, and win their opening two games of the season for the first time in 29 years to boot. It was a deserved win in the end, but the Championship side were made to fight for it by a spirited Carlisle team. There are positives for Graham Kavanagh to take from the defeat, but his side are still looking for their first positive result and first goal of the new season.
The visitors wasted a string of chances in the first half as well as hitting the woodwork, but finally broke the deadlock shortly after the hour mark as Jeff Hendrick nodded in from close range., That goal came just minutes after Carlisle had hit the crossbar themselves, but that was to be the closest the hosts came. The killer goal came in the third minute of stoppage time as Chris Martin produced a fine finish into the bottom corner from a low cross, confirming the Rams' place in the next round.
Right, that is all we have time for tonight! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was an entertaining clash between Carlisle and Derby. The latter progressed to the second round of the League Cup with a 2-0 victory over the League Two side, making it two wins from two this season. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
