Josh Vickers was Derby’s hero, making two penalty saves to help his side beat West Brom 3-2 on spot-kicks after the Championship teams had drawn 1-1 in the Carabao Cup first round.
Vickers denied Jed Wallace and then Karlan Grant, after Derby equalised in the final minute of stoppage time at The Hawthorns before securing a shoot-out victory.
Both sides made changes but Albion had the better of the first period with Aune Heggebo and Isaac Price going closest to breaking the deadlock.
They did go on to make the breakthrough in the 67th minute through their big-money summer signing. A pinpoint Callum Styles cross was nodded down by Price into the path of Heggebo, who tapped home to break his Baggies duck.
Derby came close to an immediate reply through Ben Osborn and just when it looked like they were heading out, Joe Ward curled in a free-kick six minutes into stoppage-time to take the game to penalties.
Wallace was denied by Vickers, before Josh Maja struck the woodwork, but when Osborn hit the post and Joe Ward’s effort was kept out by Joe Wildsmith, the shoot-out was in the balance.
Alex Mowatt and Jayson Molumby tucked their kicks away but, after Ebou Adams slotted home, Grant’s tame effort was kept out as Derby progressed.
