West Brom Draw Derby County As Mepham Secures 95th-Minute Equaliser Under Eric Ramsey

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Chris Mepham struck a 95th-minute equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw for West Brom against Derby County, giving Eric Ramsey a first point as head coach. The late header ended West Brom’s long sequence of away defeats and came after a performance built on pressure and set-piece threat.

Derby had led from the 44th minute, when Patrick Agyemang reacted quickest after Max O'Leary failed to gather a free-kick cross and forced the ball over the line. That goal arrived from Derby’s first shot, keeping alive hopes of moving into the Championship playoff positions.

The decisive moment for West Brom came deep into stoppage time from another corner. Jayson Molumby met the initial delivery at the near post and flicked the ball across goal, where Mepham rose at the back post to nod in a first goal for the club and spark relieved celebrations.

Both teams started cautiously, with few clear chances in open play. West Brom almost struck first when George Campbell headed wide from an early corner. As the match progressed, West Brom increasingly relied on deliveries into the box, looking especially dangerous from corners and wide free-kicks.

If West Brom had been beaten, the result would have matched the club’s worst away sequence in 135 years, equalling a run of 11 successive away losses from 1891. Mepham’s late goal instead halted that slide and offered Ramsey a platform as West Brom attempt to stabilise their season.

The underlying figures supported West Brom’s late reward. West Brom generated 0.97 expected goals from 13 attempts, compared with Derby’s 0.29 from five efforts. That balance reflected how Ramsey’s side controlled much of the second half, especially through corners and free-kicks, while Derby struggled to create sustained pressure.

Molumby played a central role in that control, combining energy with careful passing. Alongside the crucial assist, Molumby led West Brom for touches, passes in the final third, possessions won and duels contested, underlining influence in midfield during a contest where small margins decided the outcome.

Ramsey’s side pushed hard in added time, with Samuel Iling-Junior and Josh Maja both coming close as Derby retreated deeper. Their pressure finally told with Mepham’s header, ensuring Derby’s earlier advantage did not produce three points and leaving both clubs still firmly in the playoff race.