Chelsea overcome Frank Lampard's Derby with Cesc Fabregas winner

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:27 am

Chelsea reached the League Cup quarterfinals thanks to two own goals in a 3-2 win over second-tier Derby County on Wednesday as Frank Lampard's return to his former club ended in disappointment.

Derby manager Lampard, who enjoyed 13 hugely successful years as a Chelsea player, watched his side put up a brave fight against their Premier League opponents, twice levelling the match after calamitous own goals.

On-loan Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori missed his attempted clearance and watched in Halloween-night horror as the ball ricocheted off his standing leg and deflected into the net to put the hosts ahead after five minutes.

Cesc Fabregas of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team's third goal against Derby.
Cesc Fabregas of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team's third goal against Derby.
Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Derby equalised when Jack Marriott made the most of a slip-up from Chelsea defender Gary Cahill to finish calmly into the far corner, but fell behind again as Richard Keogh poked a Davide Zappacosta cross from the right into his own net.

Derby refused to lie down and Martyn Waghorn's close-range finish gave them renewed hope but Cesc Fabregas stroked home at the near post four minutes before halftime to make it 3-2, angering the visiting players, who felt there had been a foul in the build-up.