Derby County’s Under-18s will look to get back to winning ways on Saturday afternoon when they face Sunderland at home in the Premier League - North, kick-off 1pm.
Narrow losses to Everton in the Premier League – North and to Norwich City in the FA Youth Cup saw the Rams produce characteristically strong performances, but pick up only their second and third defeats of the season.
The loss to Everton brought an impressive unbeaten run of 11 games in all competitions to an end.
The run had included notable victories against Manchester City and Stoke City, whilst a dramatic penalty shootout win against Manchester United at Pride Park showcased the character and resilience that the side has.
Last time out, Justin Walker’s and Rory Delap’s team were defeated 4-2 in the FA Youth Cup.
The match finished 2-2 after 90 minutes with Morgan Whittaker and Jayden Bogle both scoring, but home side Norwich claimed two deciding goals in extra-time to end Derby’s cup run at the fourth-round stage.
The upcoming match is the Rams’ third match after the Christmas break, and a strong performance in the away fixture against Sunderland saw Derby take the three points with a comfortable 3-0 win.
Defensive shape and togetherness have been key to the Under-18s success this season, and they currently have the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League – North having conceded only 17 goals so far.
Five wins, five draws and just two defeats in the league have seen the Rams sitting comfortably near the top of the division, and a win on Saturday could see them climb to fourth place.
Saturday’s opponents Sunderland travel to the Derby County Training Centre after a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in their last match.
Words by Marc Walker