Derby 3-3 Bristol City: Rams come back from three goals behind

Derby staged a remarkable second-half comeback to draw 3-3 after Bristol City let slip a three-goal lead in a pulsating game at Pride Park.

Matty Taylor celebrated his first goal for City before Tammy Abraham scored twice to give City a 3-0 half-time lead.

But the second half was all Derby. Darren Bent started the fightback and after Taylor missed an open goal, Tom Ince headed a second before Bent equalised from the spot to deny City a first away league win since September.

The day started cold and cheerless at Pride Park but a memorable one for Derby skipper Richard Keogh who was making his 500th appearance in all competitions while Taylor made his first start for City.

The odds were against the visitors who had lost seven of their last eight games at Derby and it needed a good save from Fabian Giefer to keep out an Ince shot in the eighth minute.

But City went ahead in the 14th minute when Aden Flint's downward header from a corner hit Will Hughes on the line and Taylor put the rebound into the roof of the net.

Derby almost levelled two minutes later with Hughes and Ince combining on the right before Bent's flick set up Abdoul Camara at the back post but Giefer made another vital block.

City were passing the ball confidently and they created a great chance in the 25th minute when Abraham played a one-two with Josh Brownhill who was through but could not beat Scott Carson.

It was a warning Derby failed to heed and two minutes later another slick move put Taylor in on the left and his low cross was swept in by Abraham.

Derby responded with a double substitution but City stunned Pride Park with a third in the 38th minute when Joe Bryan's low cross from the left was knocked back by Taylor and Abraham again drove the ball past Carson.

To have any chance, Derby had to strike early in the second half and they delivered in the 57th minute when Chris Baird crossed from the right and Bent scored with a diving header from six yards.

But City missed a sitter two minutes later when Bryan ran into the box and picked out Taylor who put the ball over the bar from almost on the goal line.

It was an astonishing miss and it proved costly when Derby scored in the 76th minute with Ince heading in Ikechi Anya's cross before they equalised five minutes later.

Ince was caught as he turned inside the area by Scott Golbourne and although Giefer got his hands to Bent's penalty, he could not keep it out. The cold and cheerless Pride Park had certainly warmed up after a fantastic second half performance from the home team.

Derby boss Steve McClaren:

"It was the whole spectrum of emotions. We said at half-time this is a defining moment, we either go backwards or we start to go forwards. For the neutral it was one hell of a game but we talk about game ready or game head on and we didn't have it on first half, it's as simple as that, and you can't do that against any opponent.

"We had to change attitude and it was up to the players to respond which they did but I think it's a lesson for us. We said that at the end, it's a lesson and if you're not right and your game head isn't on, you can lose to anyone.

"It was Jekyll and Hyde, we know the direction we want to take and it's up to the players. So a valuable lesson and I hope we take it on forward for Tuesday."

Bristol City boss Lee Johnson:

"You know when your kid runs out in the road and you quickly grab them back in and you don't know whether to give them a smack on the bum or a cuddle, that's how I feel.

"So much of our work was excellent today, the way the players passed and moved the ball in the first half and even in the second we created numerous really good chances and could have scored six and showed what a force we can be.

"But obviously I'm massively disappointed, I'd be lying if I told you I was happy with the group and taking a point from a winning position and three goals up."