Ravel Morrison scores on club debut - Derby beat Salford on penalties in EFL Cup first round

National midfielder Ravel Morrison made an instant impact in his first game for English Championship side Derby County, scoring his first goal for the club as he helped them progress to the second round of the English Football League (EFL) Cup.

Derby County defeated League Two outfit Salford City FC 5-3 on penalties in their EFL Cup first-round match at Pride Park Stadium yesterday after it ended 3-3 after 90 minutes.

Morrison, who signed a one-year deal with the club last Saturday, was given his club debut and first start by manager Wayne Rooney and managed to open his account in memorable fashion. With Derby trailing 3-2 with eight minutes left, Morrison's free-kick effort was initially deflected by the wall but curled his second attempt in the top corner beyond Salford goalkeeper Tom King. Derby were down 2-0 after 14 minutes through strikes by Jordan Turnbull and Josh Morris but goals by Issac Hutchinson and Colin Kazim-Richards in the 43rd and 71st minutes brought Derby level.

From the penalty spot

Morris put Salford City ahead for the second time from the penalty spot in the 77th minute before Morrison's equaliser.

Former Salford City player Danny Webber said on Sky Sports after the game that Morrison's strike was a glimpse of what he is capable of and hopes to see more of this season.

"Talk about instinct. That is his instinct. Shapes up to put it over the wall, doesn't happen but (that goal) that's just what you do naturally. That's what you do on a five-a-side pitch and the technique to come across towards the top corner the way that he's done is different class," Webber said. "That is the sort of thing you expect to see from Ravel Morrison and that is what people talk about him for. And we want to see more of it in a Derby shirt."

Morrison is at his 12th club in his career after leaving Dutch club ADO Den Haag in January by mutual consent. He was on trial with Derby in July and while he was selected to participate in the 2021 Gold Cup, his US visa was not processed in time for him to join the team. Morrison did not feature in Derby's opening game of the English Championship season against Huddersfield but he could feature in their next game against Peterborough on Saturday.

- D.W.