Derby County were spared further embarrassment last night after they overcame Sheffield Wednesday as Paul Jewell finally experienced a triumph in charge of the Barclays Premier League’s bottom club at the eleventh time of asking. Even then, their safe passage required a shoot-out, in which Lewis Price, the reserve goalkeeper, saved two penalties.

Kenny Miller equalised in the 47th minute after the Coca-Cola Championship team dominated the first half, but had only Steve Watson’s goal to show for it. Derby, having trailed 2-0 in the initial tie at Pride Park before this replay was called off last week because of a waterlogged pitch, play at home to Preston North End on Saturday in the fourth round.

Jewell encouraged his team, who had not won in their previous 18 matches, to overcome an humiliating first half to prevail. Wednesday went ahead from their first attack, Jermaine Johnson crossing for Watson to volley in. But they failed to press home their advantage, with Wade Small and Johnson shooting over after cutting in from the flanks with ease and Marc Edworthy clearing off the line from Miller’s header towards his own goal.

Giles Barnes, who fell ill before the match, asked to be substituted before the interval. If he felt sick playing, imagine how the Derby supporters felt having to watch. At least they knew that their team could not continue to play so poorly and, within two minutes of the restart, Miller finished impeccably from the edge of the penalty area after Stephen Pearson’s pass.

The PA announcer asked if there was a qualified referee in the ground as the match went into extra time. He did not add that Chris Foy, the original the man in the middle, who had strained his groin, was unfit to continue — he left that implication to hang in the air — as Graham Laws, the fourth official, took the whistle.

Sheffield Wednesday (4-4-2): L Grant — L Bullen, R Hinds, M Beevers, T Spurr — J Johnson, S Watson (sub: K Lunt, 47min), G Whelan, W Small (sub: D Burton, 81) — M Tudgay, A Sodje (sub: L Clarke, 71). Substitutes not used: P Gilbert, R Wood. Booked: Spurr, Lunt.

Derby County (4-4-2): L Price — M Edworthy, C Davis, D Leacock (sub: D Moore, 83), L Nyatanga — G Teale (sub: R Earnshaw, 106), A Todd, G Barnes (sub: E Lewis, 43), S Pearson — C Fagan, K Miller. Substitutes not used: B Hinchliffe, J Macken. Booked: Todd, Leacock, Nyatanga, Pearson, Edworthy.

Referee: C Foy.

Barnet, of Coca-Cola League Two, were reduced to ten men against Swindon Town, of League One, but won on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the third-round replay at Underhill. The reward is a home tie against Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

Billy Paynter had an eventful night, putting Swindon ahead late in the first half, then scoring an own goal early in the second. His final act was to miss from the spot, as did three of his team-mates, as Barnet won the shoot-out 2-0. Michael Leary, the Barnet midfield player, was sent off for serious foul play after 73 minutes.

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