Derby County fight back from 2-0 down to earn replay against Premier League Southampton

Two decisive interventions from Redmond had the hosts struggling but County fought back to earn a second bite at the Premier League strugglers

Tom Lawrence celebrates after equalising for Derby (Getty)

Derby County fought back from 2-0 down to secure a replay against top-flight Southampton on Ralph Hassenhuttl's first taste of the FA Cup.

The visitors put out a strong side against the Championship heavyweights despite relegation fears on the south coast, but while the last thing Hassenhuttl would have wanted was another game added to the Saints' fixture list after a congested festive schedule, these sides will now face off again in around ten days' time.

Frank Lampard's side trailed from the early exchanges after a Nathan Redmond strike was deflected home inside four minutes, and when Redmond got a second it appeared as if the Premier League side would cruise into the next round.

But the scoreline did not reflect the run of play, with the hosts having the better of the play but Saints also posing their own threat on the counter attack.

Derby manager Frank Lampard celebrates the equaliser (Getty)

Derby weren't going to bow out of the cup lying down though, and after going 2-0 down they mounted a sterling comeback to draw level with two goals inside three minutes.

First it was Jack Marriott, one of Lampard's big summer signings up front, who scored after good work from Tom Lawrence.

Then it was Lawrence himself who bagged the equaliser, ramping up the atmosphere among the home fans and leaving the game level heading into its final half-hour.

Jack Marriott celebrates after pulling Derby back into the game (Getty)

Even at 2-2 the game could have gone either way, with both sides having chances to win it.

Mohamed Elyounoussi should have done better with the clearest of those opportunities, holding his head in hands after Saints had cut open the County defence.

Redmond also had a good opportunity to settle the tie in stoppage time but a good save denied him and there was just enough time for David Nugent to fluff a final chance for Derby before the final whistle sounded and sent this engrossing tie to a replay.