Oh! what a night
Last updated : 16 May 2007 By Rams Mad Editor
The stage was set for a good game of football at Pride Park last night and congratulations must go to everyone at Pride Park for producing the stage for a wonderful evening.
Supporters of both teams were in fine voice and added to what must be the greatest footballing occasion yet seen at Pride Park stadium.
The game was only 2 minutes old when Derby County took the lead with a headed goal by Darren Moore. Rams fans didn't at first realise it had crossed the line until referee D'Urso pointed to the middle and the crowd erupted. Moore being the Derby hero.
 | Darren Moore hero and villain |
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The euphoria lasted all of 60 seconds as Hero Moore tried to guide a ball back to keeper Stephen Bywater and only succeeded in putting Bywater under sever pressure. The keeper had to head the ball as it looped outside his area. The ball landing nicely for John Viafara to side foot the ball into an empty net. Moore had gone from hero to villain in 60 seconds but the big mans commitment to the Rams cause never faulted as he became a key player in the unfolding drama.All square on the night at half time meant the Rams were 45 minutes from Wembley at that stage but who could have thought of the nerve tingling dramas to come in the second half.
Both sets of supporters continued to sing and encourage their sides. The yellow end still refusing to accept that their side was going out of the play-offs and the black and white flag waving Rams supporters raising the noise level to unheard heights within Pride Park.
Each side took it in turn to outplay the other and the end to end football must have been a joy to watch for the neutral looking on as Sky covered the game from every angle.
Nine minutes into the second half Rams fans were stunned and the stadium grew quite for just a brief second, with only the yellow shirted Southampton supporters making the noise. The Rams fans however knew they had to play a part in renewing the Derby County players efforts as the scores were now tied at 3-3 on aggregate and 1-2 to the Saints on the night.
 | Giles Barnes instrumental in Rams side |
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Billy Davies had an ace up his sleeve and played it almost immediately by bringing on Giles Barnes. The influential youngster was thought by most to be ruled out for the season with knee ligament damage but his appearance was greeted with a huge roar from the Derby faithful. Barnes gave his team mates the lift they needed and a flicked header could not be kept out of the Saints net as Best put the ball into his own net. 2-2 on the night and Rams again heading toward Wembley. | Its all over let the party begin |
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The night was far from over and Southampton to their credit continued to put pressure on the Rams but with time running out George Burley put on former Rams favourite, Gregorz Raziak. Like old fashioned football comics you could feel that the Raziak would have a say in the outcome of this game and with just a minute of normal time left the script called for a goal and it came after a smart move by the Saint's and Raziak scoring with a left foot shot from 12 yards. Saint's fans were in raptures and a sea of yellow applauded the last gasp effort of the Polish striker. At this point the Rams fans did fall quite, their hopes dashed of a Wembley final place dashed by a few seconds and former Rams player. However Derby fans were grateful of the ruling that away goals do not count double, as this would have seen them out of the play-off's at this point with Southampton winning the normal time game 2-3. | Rams fans invade the pitch in joy at reaching Wembley |
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Extra time was a tense affair with neither side wanting to make that fatal mistake and with rain now falling steadily the pitch became very tricky. The rain however didn't dampen both sets of supporters who again cheered for all they were worth trying to make that little difference for their side. After another punishing 30 minutes things were still in a stalemate and the dreaded penalty shoot out would decide who went to Wembley on the 28th May.With tension now nearing unbearable proportions the shoot-out began in front of the Southampton fans in the South Stand. Southampton would start and a wild penalty saw the ball shoot up and over the bar and huge cheer went up
 | THE RAMS ARE GOING TO WEMBLEY |
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from the Rams faithful and you could feel the disappointment from the travelling Southampton fans. Derby calmly slotted home their first three penalties, with the Saints replying successfully with their next three. Jay McEverly then made it 4-3 to the Rams. Next up for Southampton was ex Rams and free kick specialist Inigo Idiakez. He blazed wide and the Rams were on their way to Wembley and a friendly pitch invasion follows from excited and very relieved Rams supporters.It was a shame it had to end on penalties and you have to feel for the Saints supporters who had to make their long journey home in what was now a torrential downpour. A big thank-you to all Saints fans who made the journey and the game such a spectacle.