DERBY COUNTY (A) PREVIEW by Steve Harris

TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Steve Harris previews the game at Pride Park

DERBY COUNTY V TORQUAY UNITED – FA CUP

Venue: Pride Park, Derby

Date: Tuesday 15th November 2022

Kick-off: 7.45pm

CURRENT FORM

Derby: D, W, D, D, L, W

Torquay: L, L, W, D, D, L

GULLS RECORD IN THE CUP (LAST 5 YEARS)

2017-18:

L 2-0 Aldershot Town A 4QR

2018-19:

W 7-0 Lymington Town A 2QR

W 3-0 L Brightlingsea Regent A 3QR

W 4-1 Winchester City H 4QR

L 0-1 Woking H 1R

2019-20:

W 3-2 Boreham Wood H 4QR

L 0-1 Maidstone United A 1R

2020-21:

W 2-0 Sholing A 4QR

L 5-6 Crawley Town H 5-6 1R

2021-22:

D 2-2 Havant and Waterlooville H 4QR

L 2-4 Havant and Waterlooville A 4QR R

2022-23:

D 2-2 Hampton and Richmond H 4QR

W 2-1 Hampton and Richmond A 4QR R

D 2-2 Derby County H 1R

DERBY COUNTY FACTFILE

First Division/Premier League

Winners: 1971-72, 1974-75

FA Cup:

Winners: 1946

Second Division/Division One/Championship:

Champions: 1911-12, 1914-15, 1968-69, 1986-87

Runners-up: 1925-26, 1995-96

Play-off winners: 2006-07

Division Three North:

Champions: 1956-57

MANAGER: PAUL WARNE

Paul Warne has been tasked with reviving the fortunes of Derby County since he was appointed as the permanent successor to Wayne Rooney, following Liam Rosenior’s spell in interim charge, in September 2022.

He had previously made his name as manager of Rotherham United, who he also had two spells as a player with (1999-2005 & 2009-2012). Warne was appointed as manager of the Millers in 2016, following a successful spell as caretaker manager.

His time at the New York Stadium proved to be a great success as he led Rotherham to three promotions from League One: once as play-off winners in 2017-18 and twice as runners-up in 2019-20 and 2021-22. His third promotion with the Millers also coincided with lifting the EFL Trophy in 2022.

PLAYER TO WATCH: CONOR HOURIHANE

Republic of Ireland international midfielder Conor Hourihane is no stranger to the South West having played for Plymouth Argyle between 2011 and 2014 – following brief spells with Sunderland and Ipswich Town.

Hourihane then joined Barnsley in 2014 and helped the Tykes win the EFL Trophy in the 2015-16 season against Oxford United, which was swiftly followed by a League One play-off final win against Millwall.

In January 2017, Hourihane earned a move to Aston Villa and helped them win promotion back to the Premier League in the 2018-19 campaign. He joined the Rams in the summer of 2022 after he was released by the Villains at the end of the 2021-22 season.

He has represented the Republic of Ireland 36 times and has scored once.

HOURIHANE STATS:

Position: Midfield

Date of Birth: 2nd February 1991 – 31 Years Old

Birthplace: Cork

Height: 1.81m

Former Clubs: Sunderland, Ipswich, Plymouth, Barnsley, Aston Villa, Swansea, Sheff Utd

L1 Stats 22-23: Played 15, Goals Scored 3, Yellow/Red 5/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: Dean Moxey

Derby: None

LAST MEETING

Torquay 2 – 2 Derby

6th November 2022

Will Goodwin turned in a stoppage-time equaliser to give National League strugglers Torquay United a replay against 10-man Derby County in a pulsating first-round tie steeped in the classic traditions of the FA Cup.

Two clinical strikes from Will Osula had seemingly put the League One side – playing in the first round for the first time for 37 years – firmly on course for round two, only for the Gulls to get back into it 10 minutes into the second half via an Asa Hall penalty that saw Eiran Cashin sent off for pulling back Goodwin in the box.

Roared on by a baying home crowd in the pouring rain at Plainmoor, Torquay surged forward and after Hall twice went close, Goodwin sent the supporters wild 42 seconds into added time at the end of stoppage time by deflecting a snap shot from Aaron Jarvis past keeper Joe Wildsmith.

That capped a superb comeback from Torquay, who were looking to win their first FA Cup first round win for 11 years and looked out of it after Osula’s double.

The teenager, on loan from Sheffield United, tucked home Max Bird’s crisp low centre at the near post on 27 minutes before he drilled in his second 71 seconds into the second half, burying a left-footed shot past keeper Mark Halstead after turning a back-peddling Mark Ellis inside out with a twisting run into the area.

Having matched the Rams in an opening quarter played at a frantic pace, Torquay, 65 places below Derby in the football pyramid, had faded but were handed a way back into the tie when Cashin pulled Goodwin down inside the box. Referee David Rock sent the Irishman off for not making an attempt to challenge for the ball.

Veteran Hall slammed in the spot-kick to rejuvenate the Gulls, who stormed back into the tie on a wave of raucous home support as the rain lashed down and the pitch grew heavier.

Captain Hall twice went close with a shot on the turn and a diving header before Shaun Donnellan fizzed a 20-yarder inches wide and Dylan Crowe sent a curling effort over from the edge of the box as an increasingly nervous Derby held on.

With time running out, Gulls goalkeeper Halstead went up for a corner and when Derby repelled it that seemed to end Torquay hopes.

But they won the ball back, launched it into the area and with Halstead challenging, the ball rebounded out to Jarvis, whose drive was instinctively diverted into the net by Goodwin from six yards to trigger delirium and a much-deserved replay.