Prior to the Rams’ triumph at Elland Road, no Championship team had ever made the playoff final having lost the semi-final first leg at home.
Derby County loanee Mason Mount has explained how the Champions League semi-final exploits of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur inspired the Rams to victory against Leeds United in the Championship playoff semi-final.
The odds, and indeed history, was against Frank Lampard’s side as they were a goal down from the first leg at Pride Park and no team had ever previously reached the second-tier final after losing the first leg at home.
Things looked to be heading that was as Stuart Dallas gave Leeds a 1-0 lead at Elland Road on the night and 2-0 on aggregate, but rather than letting their heads drop, Derby fought back in style.
Goals from Jack Marriott, Mount and Harry Wilson turned the tie on its head and even though Dallas rifled Marcelo Bielsa’s side back level on aggregate, Marriott’s second of the night ensured a triumphant return to the East Midlands.
With Liverpool having overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Barcelona to win 4-3 on aggregate and Spurs also coming back from a three-goal disadvantage in the last 45 minutes of their second leg against Ajax, the inspiration that a comeback was possible was there for Frank Lampard’s side.
“I can’t put it into words,” Mount told Derby channel RamsTV. “You see Liverpool and Tottenham come back and do it and you have that belief before the game that it can happen.
“They were big goals, especially Jack’s. The first half was tough, they got a goal and we get one back. Coming out in the second half, we get another goal, a lucky goal, and then we get more. It’s such a tough place to come but we did it.”
Derby will now be facing Aston Villa in the Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium on Monday 27 May.
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