The Spygate sequel is on. And this time, as the voiceover for the trailer might boom, the stakes are even higher.
Derby showed enormous courage and buckets of quality to beat West Brom and set up a play-off showdown with Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United that, let’s admit, was the rematch we all wanted.
The drama that swirled round their last encounter was one of the stories of the season, when Frank Lampard took great umbrage at having his training sessions spied on by a Leeds employee.
Derby's players celebrate after Harry Wilson's spot kick confirmed the victory over West Brom and their play-off qualification
Harry Wilson wheels away in celebration after converting from the penalty spot to score Derby's third against West Brom
Frank Lampard clenches his fists in celebration as Derby march into the Championship play-offs with victory on Sunday
Harry Wilson sends his spot kick into the bottom corner to give Derby a two-goal lead over West Brom on Sunday
A topless Mason Bennett celebrates after scoring a rebound from close range to put Derby back into the lead on Sunday
Stefan Johansen celebrates after bringing West Brom level two minutes after half time with a low shot into the corner
Johansen's left-footed shot finds the bottom corner to peg Derby back in their must-win game to reach the Premier League
Martyn Waghorn roars in celebration after giving Derby a 19th minute lead in their home game against West Brom
Waghorn heads home from Jayden Bogle's cross to break the deadlock for the Rams in the must-win game on Sunday
Derby (4-3-3): Roos 7; Bogle 7.5, Keogh 7.5, Timori 8, Malone 7.5; Holmes 7.5 (Bennett 65’ 7.5), Johnson 7, Mount 7.5; Wilson 8.5 (Evans 90’), Waghorn 7.5 (Nugent 41’ 7), Lawrence 8
Subs not used: Carson, Marriott, MacDonald, Huddlestone
Goalscorers: Waghorn 19, Bennett 70, Wilson pen 73
Booked: Bennett
Manager: Frank Lampard 8.5
West Brom (3-4-3): Johnstone 7.5; Dawson 6, Bartley 5 (Robson-Kanu 78’), Hegazi 6; Holgate 6, Harper 7, Johansen 7.5 (Field 75’), Gibbs 6; Murphy 6 (Phillips 60’ 5), Gayle 6.5, Rodriguez 7
Subs not used: Morrison, Mears, Townsend, Bond
Goalscorers: Johansen 47
Booked: Johnstone, Bartley, Johansen, Rodriguez, Hegazi
Manager: Jimmy Shan 6
Sent off: Robson-Kanu
Man of the Match: Harry Wilson
Referee: Tim Robinson 8
Att: 32,055
The fallout saw Bielsa painted as an Argentine James Bond, although some £200,000 poorer after personally paying the FA fine. Lampard might not admit but he is sure to revel in the prospect of gaining revenge.
His Derby team will go into Saturday’s first leg back here at Pride Park with great confidence. They were much superior to West Brom,
