Rams spot on for semi-final

2nd December 2008

Derby, relegated in shame from the Premier League last season, are on the brink of a Wembley final after edging past Stoke 1-0 in the Carling Cup fifth round.

An injury-time penalty from Nathan Ellington sent Paul Jewell's men into the semi-finals, the first time County have reached that stage of a major cup competition since 1968.

Neither side was slow in getting the ball forward quickly, largely bypassing midfield and the game swung wildly from box to box. Stoke had an effort ruled out after 36 minutes when Richard Cresswell forced his way clear to drill a low shot past Rams goalkeeper Roy Carroll, only to find that he had been penalised for handball.

The Potters should have been in the lead after 54 minutes when Ricardo Fuller broke clear of the offside trap, but as he advanced into the area a remarkable saving tackle from Jordan Stewart stopped the striker in the act of shooting.

Derby responded when Miles Addison hooked against the foot of a post from a 76th-minute corner. Darren Powell was booked for a foul on Fuller, and from the free-kick Glenn Whelan curled in a fine effort that Carroll superbly tipped over.

Extra-time loomed but in injury-time, Andy Griffin was judged to have handled a cross from Przemyslaw Kazmierczak, and referee Rob Styles awarded a spot-kick that Ellington rolled in right in front of the massed Derby ranks. Ten seconds later, the game was over.