Substitute David Ball scored a late equaliser as Peterborough denied Derby a deserved final-day victory.

The Rams started well with Steve Davies forcing two fine saves out of Posh keeper Paul Jones before Theo Robinson touched in Craig Bryson's cross.

But Ball levelled with nine minutes remaining, curling a right-foot shot past Adam Legzdins after racing clear.

George Boyd then shot against the post for Posh, while Davies's header was tipped away by Jones.

The save capped a decent game for the Posh stopper and denied Derby a 12th home victory of the season that looked likely even before Robinson scored his 12th of the season.

Jones had already saved well from Rams leading scorer Davies before tipping his well-struck free-kick past the post.

But he was powerless to stop Robinson, who got in front of his marker and nudged in Bryson's centre with the slightest of touches.

Bryson almost played in Davies for a second before the break, but the ball fizzed harmlessly across goal.

The home side could not convert their dominance into goals though and Posh came close to levelling when Lee Tomlin's left-foot striker trickled inches wide.

Bell finally did equalise before the late excitement which could have seen either side snatch victory.

Derby manager Nigel Clough:

"With the general play and some of the chances we've created and we only get one goal out of it, it probably just highlights the need for somebody to put the ball in the net on a regular basis, that's all that's missing.

"We can get players to put the ball where we want it to be put, Nathan (Tyson) put a couple in there today and we keep asking our strikers to get in there, but we can only ask them for so long."

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson:

"I'm delighted with where we've finished, because today we could have fallen a few places.

"And I didn't want it to be the case of if other results had gone against us and we finished fourth bottom then people may suggest it's only because Portsmouth got deducted points, so we've done our job and all credit to my players for that."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Derby County

  • 13 Legzdins
  • 02 Brayford
  • 03 Roberts
  • 06 Shackell
  • 17 Buxton
  • 04 Bryson (Bailey - 87' )
  • 23 Hendrick
  • 29 Hughes (Carroll - 84' )
  • 07 S Davies
  • 09 Tyson
  • 21 Robinson (Bennett - 74' )

Substitutes

  • 30 Lelan
  • 16 Bailey
  • 19 Carroll
  • 28 Bennett
  • 35 Thomas

Peterborough United

  • 28 Jones
  • 02 Little
  • 05 Zakuani
  • 27 Alcock
  • 11 McCann
  • 14 Rowe
  • 17 Newell (Ntlhe - 56' Booked )
  • 08 Tomlin
  • 10 Boyd
  • 20 Barnett (Ball - 63' )
  • 26 Taylor (Kearns - 56' )

Substitutes

  • 18 Brisley
  • 29 Ntlhe
  • 33 Grant
  • 21 Kearns
  • 09 Ball
Ref: East
Att: 27,354

Match Stats

Shots

23 17

On target

13 9

Corners

10 5

Fouls

12 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:29 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +3:59

James Bailey sends in a cross, Steve Davies takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.

90:00 +3:40

Corner taken left-footed by Tom Carroll, Craig Alcock makes a clearance.

90:00 +3:35

The ball is delivered by Nathan Tyson, clearance made by Craig Alcock.

90:00 +2:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jeff Hendrick by George Boyd. Tom Carroll takes the free kick.

90:00 +1:11

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Grant McCann.

89:26

Foul by Mason Bennett on Mark Little, free kick awarded. Paul Jones restarts play with the free kick.

88:18

George Boyd has an effort at goal from close range that bounces off the post.

87:14

Corner taken by Tom Carroll.

86:18 Substitution

Substitution James Bailey is brought on as a substitute for Craig Bryson.

81:36

Assist on the goal came from Grant McCann.

84:36

Nathan Tyson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Little. George Boyd takes the free kick.

83:36

Steve Davies takes a shot. Gabriel Zakuani gets a block in.

83:24

Corner from right by-line taken by Tom Carroll.

83:03 Substitution

Substitution Tom Carroll joins the action as a substitute, replacing Will Hughes.

81:36

Assist by Daniel Kearns.

81:36 Goal scored

Goal - David Ball - Derby 1 - 1 Peterboro David Ball scores a goal from just inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Derby 1-1 Peterborough.

77:31

Mason Bennett challenges Mark Little unfairly and gives away a free kick. Shot comes in from Grant McCann from the free kick, save made by Adam Legzdins.

76:32

John Brayford takes a shot. Kgosi Ntlhe gets a block in.

75:32

Lee Tomlin has shot on goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

75:14

Jeff Hendrick takes a shot. Blocked by Gabriel Zakuani.

73:53 Substitution

Substitution Theo Robinson goes off and Mason Bennett comes on.

73:10

Will Hughes takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Grant McCann.

73:10

Corner taken by Will Hughes played to the near post, David Ball makes a clearance.

71:58

Theo Robinson takes a shot. Save made by Paul Jones.

71:13

Will Hughes takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Kgosi Ntlhe makes a clearance.

71:08

The ball is delivered by Theo Robinson, Gabriel Zakuani manages to make a clearance.

70:33

George Boyd takes a shot. Steve Davies gets a block in.

69:06

Lee Tomlin takes a shot. Blocked by Jeff Hendrick.

68:49

Theo Robinson concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Alcock. Craig Alcock restarts play with the free kick.

66:47

Corner from the left by-line taken by Will Hughes, Jason Shackell takes a shot. Steve Davies has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the target.

66:24

Short corner taken by Will Hughes from the right by-line.

66:16

The ball is sent over by Jeff Hendrick, Gabriel Zakuani manages to make a clearance.

65:36

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steve Davies by George Boyd. Direct free kick taken by Jason Shackell.

64:54

Effort from inside the area by Theo Robinson misses to the left of the target.

64:30

The ball is swung over by Nathan Tyson, save made by Paul Jones.

61:38 Substitution

Substitution David Ball comes on in place of Tyrone Barnett.

61:38

Corner taken left-footed by Grant McCann, Gabriel Zakuani has a header from deep inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.

61:25

Centre by Kgosi Ntlhe, John Brayford gets a block in.

60:27

Tommy Rowe challenges Will Hughes unfairly and gives away a free kick. John Brayford takes the free kick.

57:54

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Will Hughes from the right by-line, Steve Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Alcock. Paul Jones restarts play with the free kick.

57:38

John Brayford takes a shot. Blocked by Grant McCann.

57:10

Craig Bryson takes the direct free kick.

57:10 Booking

Booking Kgosi Ntlhe goes into the referee's book.

56:53

Kgosi Ntlhe gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Bryson.

55:27 Substitution

Substitution (Peterborough) makes a substitution, with Daniel Kearns coming on for Paul Taylor.

55:27 Substitution

Substitution Kgosi Ntlhe comes on in place of Joe Newell.

54:44

Corner taken left-footed by Grant McCann from the right by-line, Gabriel Zakuani has a headed effort from close range and clears the bar.

53:27

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Will Hughes, Jake Buxton has a header from close in and clears the crossbar.

53:21

Nathan Tyson sends in a cross, blocked by Craig Alcock.

52:55

The ball is crossed by Nathan Tyson, clearance made by Craig Alcock.

52:23

John Brayford concedes a free kick for a foul on Joe Newell. Free kick taken by Grant McCann.

51:37

Shot from just outside the box by Jeff Hendrick misses to the left of the goal.

50:43

The assistant referee flags for offside against Steve Davies. Paul Jones takes the indirect free kick.

49:47

Foul by Paul Taylor on Jason Shackell, free kick awarded. Jason Shackell takes the direct free kick.

48:35

Lee Tomlin takes a shot. Gareth Roberts gets a block in.

48:22

The assistant referee flags for offside against Paul Taylor. Jake Buxton restarts play with the free kick.

47:50

Nathan Tyson takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.

46:21

Unfair challenge on Tommy Rowe by Craig Bryson results in a free kick. Grant McCann produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, blocked by Craig Bryson. Craig Alcock takes a shot. Blocked by Craig Bryson.

45:38

Shot from just outside the box by Craig Bryson misses to the right of the target.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:11 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +0:29

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Grant McCann from the left by-line.

44:42

Unfair challenge on Joe Newell by Will Hughes results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul Jones.

42:42

Nathan Tyson produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.

41:55

Shot from a long way out by Paul Taylor goes wide of the left-hand post.

40:18

Unfair challenge on Jason Shackell by Gabriel Zakuani results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam Legzdins.

39:34

Jason Shackell concedes a free kick for a foul on Tyrone Barnett. Direct free kick taken by Paul Taylor.

39:03

Theo Robinson takes a shot. Paul Jones makes a save.

38:19

Theo Robinson is caught offside. Paul Jones restarts play with the free kick.

37:48

Will Hughes crosses the ball, save made by Paul Jones.

36:11

Grant McCann crosses the ball, Header from close in by Gabriel Zakuani misses to the right of the goal.

35:42

Grant McCann takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Theo Robinson.

34:26

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jason Shackell on Tyrone Barnett. Grant McCann produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

33:35

Steve Davies takes a shot. Craig Alcock gets a block in.

32:58

The ball is delivered by Craig Bryson.

30:04

Will Hughes takes a shot. Blocked by Gabriel Zakuani.

27:07

Corner taken by Will Hughes, Headed effort from close range by Jason Shackell goes wide left of the target.

26:57

Craig Bryson takes a shot. Save made by Paul Jones.

24:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Little on Steve Davies. Direct free kick taken by Jason Shackell.

20:59

Assist on the goal came from Craig Bryson.

20:59 Goal scored

Goal - Theo Robinson - Derby 1 - 0 Peterboro Theo Robinson grabs a goal from close in to the top left corner of the goal. Derby 1-0 Peterborough.

20:57

The ball is swung over by Craig Bryson,

19:22

Shot from inside the area by Steve Davies clears the bar.

18:22

Joe Newell challenges Will Hughes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jeff Hendrick takes the free kick.

18:01

Centre by Paul Taylor, Joe Newell takes a shot. Save made by Adam Legzdins.

17:32

Gareth Roberts delivers the ball, clearance by Gabriel Zakuani.

14:15

Lee Tomlin takes a shot. The assistant referee signals for offside against George Boyd. Adam Legzdins restarts play with the free kick.

13:01

Theo Robinson challenges Craig Alcock unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Jones takes the direct free kick.

12:46

The ball is swung over by Gareth Roberts, Gabriel Zakuani makes a clearance.

9:31

Foul by George Boyd on Steve Davies, free kick awarded. Steve Davies has an effort direct from the free kick, save made by Paul Jones.

8:52

The ball is sent over by John Brayford, Steve Davies takes a shot. Brilliant save by Paul Jones.

5:58

The official flags Tyrone Barnett offside. Indirect free kick taken by Jake Buxton.

4:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Grant McCann by Theo Robinson. Grant McCann takes the direct free kick.

1:32

Lee Tomlin produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the goal.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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