Dailly's header denies Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur 1 Derby County 1

Just when it looked as though Tottenham Hotspur would begin a season full of supposed championship promise with wins from their opening two games, Derby County ruined Gerry Francis's evening with an equaliser deep into injury time at White Hart Lane. It was not as if Spurs had not been warned. Last-ditch recoveries were the key to Derby's promotion last season and Leeds United certainly felt the sting in their tail on Saturday. Jim Smith had said then he did not expect his side to achieve the feat as often in the Premier League. Foolish man.

As though to prove their manager wrong, Derby rocked Spurs with the strength of their late rally after the home side appeared to have the game won with Teddy Sheringham's 35th minute free-kick.

With the cultured left foot of Aljosa Asanovic performing a cunning role in midfield, Derby had started as strongly as they finished. Christian Dailly, a Scottish Under-21 international brought from Dundee United for pounds 1m drove wide and Dean Sturridge fired into the side-netting.

It took a while for Spurs to bring their passing game into order but once they had done so, the fluent first-time touches of Sheringham, Andy Sinton, Clive Wilson and, to a lesser extent, Darren Anderton, had Derby constantly back-pedalling. Not that Igor Stimac ever looked unduly concerned. The mastery of the Croatian defender, returning from a back strain, ensured that Chris Armstrong would never add to his two-goal contribution on Saturday.

When a Spurs goal eventually arrived, it was barely deserved. Stimac pushed Ruel Fox and Sturridge was booked for dangerous play on Sheringham at the free-kick. Trying again, Sheringham curled a delightful shot beyond the reach of Russell Hoult.

Derby began the second half seemingly bereft of ideas but that was a misguided impression and if Ian Walker was beginning to contemplate a completely idle evening, Asanovic's rasping 67th-minute drive came as a dire warning. The goalkeeper safely held the shot overhead and Spurs were soon making significant inroads once more with Fox belting a long- range drive on to an upright.

But Derby were not done for. Far from it. Asanovic forced Walker into a far more spectacular save and then the Dane Jacob Laursen matched Fox by driving a cross-shot against a post. Spurs had just completed the time- wasting process of bringing on two injury-time substitutes when Chris Powell launched Derby's last throw. The outstanding Stimac nodded on and this time Derby were not to be denied by the woodwork as Dailly's header dropped in, almost apologetically, off an upright.

Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3): Walker; Wilson, Campbell, Calderwood, Edinburgh; Fox (Rosenthal, 90), Howells, Anderton (Dozzell, 90); Armstrong, Sheringham, Sinton. Substitutes not used: Nethercott, Carr, Baardsen (gk)

Derby County (4-1-3-2): Hoult; Laursen, Rowett, Stimac, C Powell; Parker (Flynn, 86); Dailly, D Powell, Asanovic; Gabbiadini (Willems, 67), Sturridge (Simpson, 68). Substitutes not used: Van der Laan, Taylor (gk).

Referee: K W Burge (Mid-Glamorgan)