RAVEL MORRISON lashed an amazing late debut equaliser for Derby before Wayne Rooney’s men KO’d Gary Neville’s crew in a shootout.
Ex-Manchester United midfielder Morrison peaked the Rams’ EFL Cup comeback from 0-2 and 2-3 down against their League Two visitors with a top-corner thumper from 30 yards in the 82nd minute.
Rooney‘s men then won 5-3 on penalties to sink the big spenders, who are co-owned by fellow Old Trafford legends like the Neville brothers, plus David Beckham and Paul Scholes.
Debutant keeper Ryan Allsop’s shootout save from Luke Burgess ultimately made the difference for beleaguered Derby.
Salford co-owner Neville had interviewed former United team-mate Rooney before the game for Sky Sports.
But City did their talking on the pitch with Jordan Turnbull and Josh Morris netting inside 15 minutes.
Defender Turnbull headed home from a neatly-constructed corner before winger Morris cracked in a clinical low finish.
The Rams have been struggling under a transfer embargo that was eased ahead of Saturday’s 1-1 home Championship opener against Huddersfield.
And in fact former England Under-21 star Morrison only signed 35 MINUTES before that draw.
But Derby showed the resilience they will surely need all season to slowly strike back.
DREAM TEAM IS BACK! SIGN UP NOW FOR THE 21/22 SEASON WITH £100,000 PRIZE POT UP FOR GRABS
BETTING SPECIAL – GET MO SALAH TO SCORE ONE OR MORE GOALS IN AUGUST AT 20/1
Isaac Hutchinson rifled into the bottom corner just before the break.
Then Colin Kazim-Richards tucked home a controversial penalty leveller on 71 minutes.
But three minutes later ex-Fleetwood Town ace Morris restored Salford’s lead with a calm spot-kick of his own.
Up stepped Morrison, though, with a delightful free swing of his right boot when a free-kick rebounded back to him, sending the ball arching away into the left stanchion.
But former Wycombe stopper Allsopp then replaced Morrison as the Rams’ new-boy hero – to secure a second-round place on penalties.
Allsopp and ex-Huddersfield defender Richard Stearman only joined last Friday, a day before Morrison’s arrival in the 28-year-old’s latest attempt to revive a career that was once tipped for greatness.
Read our Transfer news live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals
