Three second half goals took Town to a win over Derby and their first FA Cup victory against league opposition for five years. Second half subs Jim Magilton and Shefki Kuqi played pivotal roles as Richard Naylor, Tommy Miller and Kuqi netted the goals which defeated George Burley's men.

Tranmere Rovers were the last league team beaten by the Blues in the Cup, back in 1999 when John McGreal, then a Rovers' player, netted an own goal winner.

McGreal returned to the Town line-up against Derby as Joe Royle made a number of changes. Shefki Kuqi, Jim Magilton and Georges Santos dropped to the bench while Ian Westlake missed out with flu. Into the starting side came Tommy Miller, Martijn Reuser and Darren Bent.

Unusually the Blues attacked the North Stand in the first half, stand-in captain Fabian Wilnis presumably losing the toss.

New Derby signing Manel hit the first shot of the game across the face of Kelvin Davis' goal in the opening minute after a swiftly taken freekick.

Midfielder Chris Bart-Williams struck Town's first effort three minutes later, his shot screwing wide after he had latched on to a half-cleared corner on the 18-yard line.

Soon after Rams' full-back Luciano Zavagno brought the best from Kelvin Davis with a low 25-yard shot which the Town keeper did well to tip round the post with his left hand.

On 5 a move involving Martijn Reuser, Matt Richards, Jermaine Wright and Fabian Wilnis ended with the Dutchman's cross from the right being put wide by Darren Bent.

There were appeals for a Town penalty not long after when a Matt Richards cross struck Pablo Mills. Few referees would have given it and Phil Crossley was no exception.

Jermaine Wright's shot was simple for Lee Grant in the Derby goal on seven, before Darren Bent flicked a header wide after fine work from Wilnis on the right.

After an early flurry of chances the game settled into a rather dour affair with neither side really impressing themselves upon the opposition and passes often going astray.

Tommy Miller wasn't far from opening the scoring in the 21st minute, his left foot chip from the edge of the box looping on to the roof of the net.

Derby's most dangerous moment of the half came on 24. Jermaine Wright misplaced a pass on the edge of the box, allowing Tudgay a shot which Kelvin Davis impressively tipped over the bar.

For Town Martijn Reuser struck an effort from a tight angle which Grant saved after a superb ball down the left from McGreal.

McGreal and Naylor were looking impressive at the back, and on the half hour Naylor put in a solid saving challenge on Manel inside the Town area.

Pablo Couñago wasn't having the best of afternoons, but he came close to a goal in the 31st minute. The Spaniard headed Martijn Reuser's freekick just wide of Grant's goal while facing away from goal, eight yards out. Soon after, the former Celta Vigo man headed a Reuser corner to keeper Grant.

Derby's closest late first half chance saw Youl Mawene head a right-wing corner over the bar from close in. In injury time Fabian Wilnis picked up a yellow card for a foul on Manel.

The Blues had probably had the best of the half without ever really imposing themselves on the visitors. Despite the early chances there had been little of quality to warm up the 16,159 crowd on a very cold afternoon.

With five minutes of the second half gone Joe Royle made his first change, switching Shefki Kuqi for Darren Bent, Town having lacked an aerial presence during the first period.

Only two minutes later Royle sent on Jim Magilton for Chris Bart-Williams, a change which would have an immediate impact on the game.

Town won a freekick on the right when Fabian Wilnis was fouled. Jim Magilton whipped the ball in with his first touch and Richard Naylor nodded in at the far post for his first ever FA Cup goal, and his sixth overall this season.

The goal and substitutions gave the Blues a massive lift and Pablo Couñago wasn't far away from a second when he latched on to Shefki Kuqi's low ball across the box. However, Grant was equal to the Spaniard's effort.

Manel headed a Zavagno cross wide in the 57th minute, before Couñago played a ball across the penalty area to Kuqi who shot wide.

Just after the hour a long Magilton pass picked out Kuqi in the box, the Finn chesting the ball down well but Grant was out to claim before he could get his shot in.

Tommy Miller put a snapshot wide from 20 yards but it wasn't long before the former Hartlepool midfielder was on the scoresheet.

Jermaine Wright passed the ball out of defence, sending Shefki Kuqi away on the right at the halfway line. The former Sheffield Wednesday man took the ball forward powerfully and quickly, cut into the area before laying the ball back to Miller who put the ball across Grant and into the net for his fifth of the season.

With 16 minutes remaining Dean Bowditch replaced Pablo Couñago. The only Spaniard remaining on the pitch, Manel, was near to opening his English goals account a minute later, the former Espanyol man beating Kelvin Davis to a cross but heading against the bar. Richard Naylor, as so often during the game, was first to the ball and cleared.

Jermaine Wright shot high and wide before Manel put a 20 yarder the wrong side of Davis' posts. Dean Bowditch made a tricky run down the right past a couple of defenders but his shot was blocked.

Zavagno blazed over with seven minutes left on the clock before Manel and Ian Taylor both got away beyond the Town defence, Kelvin Davis doing well to block the Spaniard's shot from close range.

On 87 Huddlestone tackled Bowditch late just outside the area on the Town left, the Rams' youngster picking up a yellow card. It was obvious Martijn Reuser territory and the Dutchman struck a shot which was too powerful for Grant, Kuqi getting to the rebound first and notching the third goal of the afternoon.

Tommy Miller shot wide in injury time but the result had been already been settled, the home crowd calling for waves from both George Burley and Joe Royle prior to Mr Crossley's final whistle.

Not always the best performance from Town despite some good moments. The introduction of Magilton and Kuqi improved the second half display greatly, while McGreal and Naylor had solid games at the back. It would be nice to see them settle into a regular partnership, if only until Drissa Diallo returns from injury.

The three goals and a rare clean sheet will probably be as important to Joe Royle as the progress to the fourth round, although the club's money men will now be crossing their fingers for a big tie when the balls are drawn on Monday lunchtime (1pm), and hopefully live TV coverage.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Naylor, McGreal, Richards, Wright, Miller, Bart-Williams (Magilton 52), Reuser, Couñago (Bowditch 74), Bent (Kuqi 50).

Photo: Action Images

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