Crewe Alexander v Derby County A
CREWE ALEXANDRA 1
DERBY COUNTY 0
GOALS: Barker og 45+1.
RAILWAYMEN (4-3-3): Taylor; Tootle, Artell, Ada, Blanchett; Westwood, Bell (capt), Murphy; Miller (Moore 81), Zola, Donaldson; subs not used: Fogler (gk), Grant, Mitchel-King, Leitch-Smith, Dugdale, Powell.
RAMS (4-2-3-1): Bywater 6; Brayford 7, Leacock 5, Barker (Roberts 69) 7, Moxey 5; Bailey 6, Savage (capt) 6; Cywka 6, Commons 6, Pringle (Doyle 82) 7; Porter (Hulse 46, 6) 4; subs not used: Deeney (gk), Buxton, Martin.
BOOKINGS: Moxey 61 (foul on Donaldson); Tootle 74 (time wasting).
REFEREE: Carl Boyeson (East Yorkshire) .
ATTENDANCE: 3,778 (1,361 visitors).
RAILWAYMEN RAMS 1 SHOTS ON TARGET 5 7 SHOTS OFF TARGET 5 3 CORNERS 8 6 FOULS 8 1 YELLOW CARDS 1 0 RED CARDS 0 40 POSSESSION 60 MATCH VERDICT A disappointing defeat for the Rams, especially after Saturday's excellent win at Leeds United. They had a lot of possession but failed to create much with it.
RAMS STAR MAN JOHN BRAYFORD Another accomplished performance from the young right-back, who got forward well and looked solid and determined at the back.
DERBY County's Carling Cup campaign ended at the first hurdle for the third time in four years last night as they sank at Crewe Alexandra.
The Rams enjoyed plenty of possession but failed to create enough clear-cut chances against an industrious Crewe outfit in an entertaining encounter.
Shaun Barker's unfortunate own goal on the stroke of half-time was enough to give the League Two outfit passage to the second round - and they could have won by more had Shaun Miller's shot not hit a post.
However, Nigel Clough's men were denied two clear penalties when first Kris Commons and later substitute Rob Hulse were fouled in the box.
But Derby, who looked a shadow of the side who won 2-1 at Leeds United on Saturday, should have made more of the ball they had.
Clough made four changes following the win at Leeds, with Barker replacing Russell Anderson (groin) at centre-half and Dean Moxey coming in for Gareth Roberts at left-back.
Ben Pringle replaced Paul Green, who was on international duty with the Republic of Ireland, and Chris Porter took Hulse's place up front.
Derby's squad contained four players who were once on Crewe's books - John Brayford, James Bailey, Robbie Savage and Hulse - and all got an excellent reception from the home fans.
Crewe, meanwhile, featured former Burton Albion loanee Lee Bell, in his second spell at the club.
Crewe had the better chances in the opening stages, with the pacy Calvin Zola beating Dean Leacock in the air for the third time on five minutes and heading on for Clayton Donaldson. He twisted and turned before hitting a low shot that Stephen Bywater turned away.
Seconds later, Commons turned and hit a powerful shot which Rhys Taylor beat out.
On eight minutes, Shaun Miller got onto Luke Murphy's knock-down and hit a shot into Bywater's side netting from an angle eight yards out.
Derby should have had a penalty on 21 minutes when Commons was tripped in the box by Danny Blanchett after robbing the left-back when he took too long on the ball.
Zola's touch let him down two minutes later when he burst through after Bell's clever ball.
David Artell nearly opened the scoring on 27 minutes but his header flew just wide following a short corner routine.
Barker had Derby's best chance of the half two minutes from the break but his powerful header from Tomasz Cywka's cross was superbly saved by Taylor.
And seconds later the big centre-half did find the net - but at the wrong end. Donaldson's looping header was dropping for Zola and Barker had little option but to head it goalwards and Bywater was helpless to stop it flying in.
Hulse replaced the ineffective Porter at half-time and immediately helped the system, holding the ball up better than his rival for the striking position.
Bailey had Derby's first effort after the break, but his 25-yard low drive was comfortably held by Taylor.
Brayford and Barker then made key interventions to keep the ball out of the Rams net as Crewe went looking for a second goal.
Derby put together their best move of the match on 57 minutes as Pringle burst forward and slipped the ball outside for Brayford.
His decent cross was cleared for a corner with Cywka lurking at the back post.
On 64 minutes, Miller hit the post from 15 yards with a low shot that beat Bywater in a crowded box. It was one of the few times that Bywater was really threatened.
Commons replied for the Rams a minute later with a firm snap-shot which Taylor held.
Derby should have had another penalty on 84 minutes when Blanchett, again the culprit, pushed Hulse in the box - but again Mr Boyeson waved away the appeals.
Seconds later, Brayford hit a low shot which Taylor comfortably pouched.
Derby pressed late on but Crewe held out to take the win and condemn the Rams to another first round defeat.
