Paul Jewell celebrated his first win as Derby boss by saluting his players' "bottle" as they progressed to the FA Cup fourth round.

The Rams may remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, but they secured some welcome respite by ousting Jewell's former club Sheffield Wednesday in a pulsating third-round replay at Hillsborough.

A penalty shoot-out was required after the sides drew 1-1 in normal and extra-time and Lewis Price held his nerve to save two spot-kicks to complete a memorable comeback.

Jewell, who succeeded Billy Davies in November, was relieved to finally get a win under his belt but conceded sloppy defending was again hampering any progress his side are making.

"It was never going to be a great game considering the conditions," Jewell said in reference to a heavy playing surface.

"When I walked on the pitch at the end it was a real effort so the players have done well to get a result.

"We've got to take the positives out of the result considering the way the season has gone so far.

"But in the first half after the first 10 minutes for the remaining 35 minutes that's as bad as we've been and it was embarrassing some of the stuff that was going on out there.

"That's why we are in the predicament we are and we make schoolboy errors. Once something goes against us like the goal we just go to pieces.

"But at least in the second half we showed a bit of character and bottle with the penalties."

When Steve Watson opened the scoring after nine minutes, Wednesday, currently one place above the relegation places in the Coca-Cola Championship, appeared on course for a memorable win.

But Kenny Miller produced a classy equaliser in the opening stages of the second half and Derby grew in stature as the tie wore on.

Price then denied Glenn Whelan and Kenny Lunt from the spot to set up a home clash with Preston in the next round this Saturday.

Wednesday boss Brian Laws refused to criticise Whelan and Lunt for missing his side's first two penalties and expressed his pride at their spirited performance.

"Having put the effort we put in on Saturday (a 2-0 win over Steel City rivals Sheffield United) and then followed on Tuesday by this game you don't want to lose the game just after extra-time or on penalties," said Laws.

"But that's the format and that's the way we have to play the game. It's disappointing to go out because it's a lottery in the end but they took their penalties well.

"You've got to score your first penalty to give you a platform and we didn't do that.

"I don't blame anyone for that. You've got to show courage to take a penalty and you've got to show courage to miss them.

"All I can see is that I'm really, really proud of my players. They couldn't have given me any more."

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