Both sides went into the game knowing that they could not afford to lose, and Derby needed to win. This meant that they were forced to try and attack, and this left holes for Everton to exploit. It must be said however that it was Derby's ineptitude that cost them the game. Our first goal, courtasy of David Unsworth (who will be our top scorer if he continues his current form !), came after Alexandersson's cross was only partially cleared by the Derby defence. Gravesen squared the ball to Unsworth who finished crisply from twenty yards.
The run continued after the break with two goals in two minutes for the blues. For the first, a needless hand ball gave Everton a free kick twenty five yards out, and Alan Stubbs made no mistake with a stunning right foot shot.
Derby seemed to be down and out when two minutes later, Alexandersson netted a third. Derby's defence was nowhere to be seen as Radzinski broke down the left channel to squar the ball to Ferguson. The home sides defence was inept enough to allow Ferguson and Gemmil to both mis hit shots before the ball fell to the unmarked Alexandersson who stabbed the ball home.
Most of us thought the game was over at that point. How wrong we were.
Derby substitute Strupar scored a stunning volley within two minutes of coming on to give the home side a glimmer of hope. All seemed to be lost with 19 minutes remaining however, when another sweeping Everton attack ended with Alexandersson setting up Ferguson. The big Scot placed a precision strike in the top corner from twenty yards.
Derby then launched a stunning comeback that had Everton's players and fans alike sweating. Morris prodded home a close range finish to put Everton on edge - and their nerves were jangling with nine minutes remaining when Strupar was on target again, this time with a close range header.
Everton survived however and David Moyes is left with a winning record from his first two games.