MX23RW : Monday, April 29 13:37:29| >> :120:5547:5547:
[monks data]
Derby logo
Championship
Aug 4, 2013 at 4pm UK
 
Blackburn logo

1-1

Russell (43' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-0)
Best (89')

Late Leon Best equaliser seals Derby County draw

A late Leon Best equaliser cancels out Johnny Russell's opener as Derby County and Blackburn Rovers draw their Championship opener 1-1.

Leon Best struck a late equaliser for Blackburn Rovers as they drew their Championship opener 1-1 with Derby County at Pride Park.

Derby's Johnny Russell scores the opener from the penalty spot during the match against Blackburn on August 4, 2013© Getty Images

Derby fielded a new-look strike force of Chris Martin and Johnny Russell for the clash, while Blackburn included Tommy Spurr in their starting lineup despite him joining the Lancashire club just two days ago.

The weather was more fitting of a midwinter match as the teams entered the pitch amidst torrential rain.

Alan Judge came within whiskers of opening his Blackburn account on his debut when his curling effort bent inches wide of Lee Grant's post.

The away side's record signing, Jordan Rhodes, was denied the opener when his header was cleared off the line by an alert Craig Forsyth.

Ruben Rochina left the field in the 40th minute with a suspected dislocated shoulder, and Blackburn's afternoon went from bad to worse after a moment of madness from Alex Marrow.

The young defender handled a free kick and gifted the home side a penalty, which was duly dispatched by Russell.

Best was Blackburn's biggest threat in the second half, as the Republic of Ireland international hit both the bar and the post.

With little more than two minutes remaining, Best secured a dramatic draw for the away team when he wrapped his foot around the ball and sent it beyond the despairing reach of Grant.

ID:96757: cacheID:96757:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3619:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Derby's Jeff Hendrick and Blackburn Alex Marrow battle for the ball on August 4, 2013
Read Next:
Live Commentary: Derby 1-1 Blackburn - as it happened
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CPortsmouth462813578413797
3Bolton WanderersBolton462512986513587
4Peterborough UnitedPeterborough462591289612884
5Oxford UnitedOxford Utd4622111379562377
6Barnsley4621131282641876
7Lincoln CityLincoln4620141265402574
8Blackpool4621101565481773
9Stevenage4619141357461171
10Wycombe WanderersWycombe461714156055565
11Leyton Orient461811175355-265
12Wigan AthleticWigan462010166356762
13Exeter CityExeter461710194661-1561
14Northampton TownNorthampton46179205766-960
15Bristol Rovers46169215268-1657
16Charlton AthleticCharlton461120156465-153
17Reading461611196870-253
18Cambridge UnitedCambridge461212223961-2248
19Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury46139243567-3248
20Burton Albion461210243967-2846
RCheltenham TownCheltenham46128264165-2444
RFleetwood TownFleetwood461013234972-2343
RPort Vale461011254174-3341
RCarlisle UnitedCarlisle4679304181-4030


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!