West Brom savaged by Rams

What a shame that Wales and Scotland won't be at the World Cup in June. While English players in the Premiership were rehearsing their own calamitous penalty taking, Robbie Savage and Graham Dorrans kept this scrappy game ticking over with some sublime skills and plenty of good old fashioned reckless challenging and lashings of handbags.

West Brom had to battle back from a Paul Dickov deflected goal in the 41st minute only to come within seconds of taking all three points after a super stoppage-time strike from Dorrans.

The pulsating end to this game started in the 82nd minute when Albion's relentless, battling pressure paid off. Chris Brunt looped a tricky cross into the Derby box and in-form Simon Cox bundled the ball home between two defenders.

This seemed to trigger even more Albion activity and their deadly counter-attacking play started to overwhelm Derby more and more. In the 93rd minute Dorrans finished a fine piece of solo skill with a scorching shot. Albion were 2-1 up with only seconds remaining.

Of course, we all know that this is when a team is most vulnerable and it was literally seconds later that Derby sub Lee Hendrie had tapped the ball back towards the West Brom goal for DJ Campbell to head home and bring the scores level.

It was like all of those football moments when you just can't believe what has just happened, and the cheers of the opposing fans seem to last a lifetime. All I can say is that at least it gives us some practice for South Africa.

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