Francesco Baiano blew away Derby's frustrating goal drought with an
inspirational second-half performance to ease the Rams into the fourth round of
the FA Cup at the expense of Southampton at windswept Pride Park.
For 67 minutes County - scorers of just one goal in their last four matches -
dominated but failed to find the final ball and looked destined for at best a
replay at The Dell.
But step up Italian Baiano, whose cutting runs into the penalty box had posed
Saints problems all afternoon.
He was crudely hacked down by Carlton Palmer and
then got up to send Paul Jones the wrong way from the spot to open the scoring.
Like the wind, rain and hail sweeping around the new stadium, Derby were
relentless after that goal, and it came as no surprise when Chris Powell smashed
home the second six minutes later - his chance from the edge of the six-yard box
again the result of a Baiano foray.
Until then Derby's bemusing lack of goals had looked set to continue.
Without the suspended Stefano Eranio, they lacked the final ball necessary to
penetrate the weakened Southampton defence.
Paulo Wanchope and Deon Burton drifted in and out of the game, and Derby's
most potent attacking weapon besides Baiano was the occasional cavalry charge
from central defender Dean Yates.
As for Southampton's own maverick Matthew Le Tissier, he will wish he had
stayed at home in Guernsey.
His mad dash up for the game, the result of bad weather delaying early
attempts to fly out from the Channel Islands, was not worth it as he turned in a
jet-lagged display.
Saints started slowly, with Paul Jones in goal taking time to settle, and
Burton should have done better on 12 minutes when clean through with the goal at
his mercy.
From nothing, Wanchope created two chances in quick succession, firing into
the side-netting after a typically mazy run and then sending a speculative
effort narrowly wide.
In the second half Derby's main danger appeared to be chronic frustration.
They needed a helping hand and got one when referee Gerald Ashby pointed to
the spot following Baiano's tumble.
After Powell's goal, Saints were never remotely likely to get back on level
terms, although sub Egil Ostenstad forced a good save from Mart Poom with 10
minutes left.
When Baiano was replaced by Ron Willems late on, the game was over - the
Italian's and County's jobs were done.
Teams
Derby: Poom, Rowett (Elliott 30), C. Powell, D. Powell, Yates,
Stimac, Wanchope, Carsley, Burton, Kozluk, Baiano (Willems 79).
Subs Not Used: Hoult, Carbon, Hunt.
Booked: D. Powell.
Goals: Baiano 68 pen, C. Powell 73.
Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Palmer, Monkou, Le Tissier, Oakley,
Benali, Davies, Richardson, Hughes (Williams 79),
Hirst (Ostenstad 59).
Subs Not Used: Slater, Dryden, Moss.
Booked: Benali.
Att: 27,992
Ref: G R Ashby (Worcester).
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