The majority of the "bigger clubs" treat the early rounds of the Carling, Coca-Cola, Worthington, Rumblelows, Littlewoods, Milk, League Cup in the similar manner as some lower League teams treat the LDV Vans Trophy and Tuesday night's game at Derby was no different, both teams for different reasons made a staggering seven changes to the side that took the field three days earlier, in the Seasiders case, Stephen Crainey (dead leg), Claus Jorgensen (thigh) Ben Burgess (hamstring) and Gary Taylor-Fletcher (calf) missed out through injury, Wes Hoolahan, Keith Southern and Andy Morrell were rested following their magnificent stint at Molineux on Saturday whilst Rhys Evans was given a rare start in place of Paul Rachubka. The changes saw John Hills, Michael Flynn, Adrian Forbes and Scott Vernon come in for their first starts of the season and Ian Evatt was restored to the starting eleven following his hamstring strain.
Derby on the other hand could call upon the talents of Welsh International Rob Earnshaw, former England youth stars David Jones and Jay McEveley and experienced centre back Darren Moore.
As a contest the opening 20 minutes were fairly even, Derby set off well and forced and early corner after Bob Malcolm saw a shot take a deflection behind whilst Mo Camera screwed a shot well wide on 13 minutes.
For the Tangerines, David Fox saw a teasing free kick cause the Rams defence all kinds of problems but unfortunately for the midfielder John Hills could only direct his finish wide of Stephen Bywater's right hand post and Keigan Parker was crowded out as he tried to get on the end of a David Fox through ball.
Six minutes before the break David Jones flashed a shot wide, but it was the Seasiders who finished stronger, Keigan Parker saw a surging run come to an abrupt end, which enabled David Fox to float a glorious free kick across the face of goal, Derby were content to clear behind for a corner unfortunately Simon Grayson's men failed to test the Rams defence with the resulting set play.
Half Time: Derby County 0 Blackpool 0
After just three minutes of the second period Pool made their first change of the evening when Wes Hoolahan replaced the injured John Hills
Keigan Parker squandered a fantastic chance on 56 minutes, the pacy Scot burst clear of the Rams defence to find himself one on one with the keeper, Parker did everything right but was denied by Bywater who somehow got a touch to turn behind for a corner.
The resulting corner caused the Rams defence all kinds of problems and Pool were adamant they should have been awarded a penalty when Leacock appeared to handle inside the area, Derby could only half clear the danger, the ball fell to Keigan Parker who again burst forward and saw a shot rebound off the post with the keeper beaten.
Having been dominant in the opening 15 minutes of the second period Pool found themselves one down on 62 minutes when MO CAMARA's shot cum cross somehow found its way in to the back of the net.
Michael Flynn saw a daisy cutter drift well wide after some work down the right wing by Adrian Forbes.
With 20 minutes remaining Pool made a double change with Keith Southern and Andy Morrell replacing Michael Flynn and Scott Vernon
A quickly taken free kick from Wes Hoolahan saw Keith Southern unleash a rasping strike which took a wicked deflection off Todd, unfortunately for Pool Stephen Bywater changed direction quickly and was able to collect his effort.
Pool were denied an equaliser on 78 minutes by a brilliant save from Bywater the former West Ham and Rochdale stopper dived full stretch to his left to flick Shaun Barker's stooping header behind for a corner.
With five minutes remaining Pool pulled themselves back on level terms through the most unlikely of sources, KASPARS GORKSS rose at the far post to powerfully head home a great cross from Shaun Barker for his first goal for the club.
Pool almost snatched a winner in stoppage time when the Derby defence watched a David Fox curl across the face of goal.
Full Time Derby County 1 Blackpool 1
Andy Morrell squandered a glorious opportunity after some patient play down the Pool right, but it was the hosts who took first blood in extra time, Gary Teale crossed to CRAIG FAGAN who out jumped Michael Jackson to glance a header beyond Rhys Evans.
In the opening seconds of the second period of extra time Rhys Evans had to save well down at his near post to deny Howard who looked to get on the end of a right wing cross.
Only a last ditch tackle from Darren Moore on Andy Morrell on 109 minutes kept Derby in front, the man mountain defender time his tackle to perfection to toe poke the ball away from Morrell after Keith Southern had opened the Rams defence with a great through ball.
The trickery of Wes Hoolahan earned Pool a 115th minute corner, the Irishman weaved his magic before being crowded out, Derby struggled to clear Hoolahan's resulting corner and were content to give Pool another set play, but once again the Seasiders failed to capitalise on the corner and Derby cleared the danger.
In the last minute of extra time Pool snatched a dramatic equaliser, a quickly taken throw in wide on the right by Keigan Parker found Wes Hoolahan who slipped a delightful ball back to Parker who then floated over a brilliant cross to KASPARS GORKSS and for the second time the big Latvian rose the highest head home and send the 1000 or so Pool fans into raptures and the game to a penalty shoot out.
FULL TIME EXTRA TIME Derby County 2 Blackpool 2
PENALTY SHOOT OUT
HOWARD saved Evans dived to left pushed away 0-0
FOXscores sends Bywater the wrong way 1-0
FAGAN scores sends Evans wrong 1-1
HOOLAHAN misses scoops high over the bar 1-1
MALCOLM saved Evans dives to right to push away 1-1
SOUTHERN saved Bywater dives to right to push away 1-1
TEALE scores straight down the middle 1-2
EVATT scores sends Bywater the wrong way 2-2
McEVELEY scores sends Evans the wrong way 2-3
PARKER scores sends the Bywater the wrong way 3-3
PEARSON scores Evans gets hand to ball 3-4
MORRELL sends Byater wrong way 4-4
BYWATER scores arguably the best penalty of the night 4-5
FORBES scores Bywater goes the right way but can't keep the ball out 5-5
TODD scores low into the corner Evans no chance 5-6
BARKER scores Bywater goes wrong way 6-6
MOORE misses fires wide 6-6
JACKSON sends Bywater the wrong way and sends Pool to the third round!
POOL: Evans, Barker, Jackson, Evatt, Gorkss, Forbes, Flynn (Southern 70), Fox, Hills (Hoolahan 48), Vernon (Morrell 70), Parker Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Lawlor.
DERBY: Bywater, Camara (Pearson 82), McEveley, Leacock, Jones, Earnshaw (Howard 65), Fagan, Teale, Malcolm, Moore, Beardsley.(Todd 61)
Attendance: 8658 (967 Pool Fans)
Referee: Mr N S Miller (Durham)
