Saints will have to come through a third round replay to progress in the FA Cup after Championship side Derby came from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw.

Ralph Hasenhuttl made six changes to the team and handed a debut to Callum Slattery for the game at Pride Park and his tactics seemed to be working perfectly as goals at the start of either half from Nathan Redmond had Saints cruising.

However, two Derby goals in the space of three minutes levelled things up and ensures the teams will have an unwelcome midweek replay to contend with to decide who makes it to the fourth round.

Saints started positively in their 4-3-3 formation with Charlie Austin getting in a shot on goal with a minute on the clock but it was a speculative effort and comfortably fielded by Kelle Roos.

It didn’t take Saints long to make an even more significant impact as they took the lead on four minutes.

It all came from a right wing throw-in midway inside the Derby half with a simple flick giving Nathan Redmond the chance to run at the Rams backline, who succumbed all too easily.

Redmond fired a left footed shot from inside the area low and across goal and though Richard Keogh got to the ball he could only divert it into the opposite corner.

It quickly killed any sense of an even contest.

With their packed Championship fixture schedule Derby had made a raft of changes and brought in some untested youngsters who struggled to cope with Saints’ quality.

More often than not it was a challenge for them to contain Saints before even thinking about having the ability and confidence to string together good attacks of their own.

Derby finally created something meaningful on 32 minutes as Jack Marriott was played in through the middle.

He didn’t have the pace to get away and so laid it off to Duane Holmes who did well to get a shot on target but it was a tight angle and Angus Gunn had it covered and made the stop.

The pedestrian pace of the game continued before Saints managed to work Roos four minutes before half time, albeit it was a routine save from a 20 yard effort by Callum Slattery.

Saints should have had a cushion a minute later as James Ward-Prowse delivered a dangerous low ball across goal to find Jack Stephens at the far post who could only put wide from inside the six yard box.

Despite their dominance Saints were given a reminder of how fragile their lead remained as Holmes had the last shot of the half and curled just wide.

It didn’t stay that way for long in the second period as Redmond struck early once again.

With just three minutes gone of the second half Redmond cut in from the left and hit a wonderful right footed shot from 25 yards that bent into the far top corner leaving Roos rooted to the spot.

You would have been forgiven for thinking the tie was all but over but Derby hit back in dramatic fashion with two goals in three minutes.

The first on 58 minutes saw Tom Lawrence lifted the ball back to Marriott who produced a superb half volley into the far corner from ten yards out.

It was 2-2 on 61 minutes as a dynamic Debry counter attack ended with Lawrence being given the time and space to cut in from the left and fire a dramatic, curling finish with the outside of his right foot into the far corner.

Moi Elyounoussi had a terrific opportunity to restore Saints advantage as he was found by Austin’s cross but with a free header from eight yards he could only pick out the keeper.

Ward-Prowse was the next to get a sniff but fired over under pressure.

Saints had a late penalty shout turned down by referee Oliver Langford after Redmond went down in the box before the wide man forced Roos into a near post save.

Derby had a glorious opening to win it with virtually the last kick of the game only for Marriott to blaze over to ensure a replay.