Derby County's Under-21s fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s on Monday evening in Premier League 2.

Tony Weston scored for the Rams but it wasn't enough to cancel out two first half goals from the visitors as Jake Buxton's men tasted defeat at Loughborough University Stadium.

Derby were close to taking an early lead when Cruz Allen nipped in behind but he saw his strike halted by a last-ditch block from a Wolves defender.

Buxton's side went behind with a goal that came against the run of play. Ryan Bartley slipped, which allowed Fletcher Holman to nip in and drive towards goal before slotting coolly beyond Jack Thompson.

Thompson did well to deny the visitors a second when he got down well to hold onto a header from Temple Ojinnaka.

The Rams were close to equalising when Weston spun his man in the area after latching onto the end of a Riley Moloney pass but the forward saw his effort hit the side netting.

But it was the visitors that doubled their lead before the break courtesy of a wicked deflection. Tyler Roberts got in down the right and looked to find a man in the middle of the box but his cross took a cruel deflection to loop over the head of Thompson and into the back of the net.

The visitors could have added a third after the break when Thompson fumbled Tom Edozie's strike but the goalkeeper recovered well to pounce on the ball before it crossed the line.

Derby had a glorious chances to halve the deficit when Moloney was able to twist and turn in the area only to see his effort brilliant saved by James Storer. Bayo Fapetu followed in for the rebound but was unable to get enough power on it to bundle his effort beyond Storer.

The Rams deserved a goal and they got one in fortuitous fashion, just like that of Wolves' second. Weston's cross from a tight angle took a big deflection and looped over the head of Storer to halve the deficit.

Weston thought he'd got his and the Rams' second within minutes when he turned on a swivel from six yards out to fire beyond Storer, but he was instantly denied by the linesman's offside flag.

It was then Kei Robinson's turn to find the net as he slotted home coolly following a corner but Derby were denied by the offside flag yet again.

Robinson went close again minutes later as he saw his looping header crash against the crossbar as the Rams continued to search for an equaliser.

Six additional minutes were signalled as Buxton's side continued to push for an equaliser but it wasn't for be as they tasted defeat.

Derby County Under-21s: Thompson (GK), Perry, Gill, D Robinson (C) (59' McAndrew), Bartley, K Robinson, Allen (90' Hawkins), Trialist, Weston, Fapetu, Moloney (72' Nto).

Substitutes not used: Cox, Shattell (GK).