Robins High Performance Centre
Derby County Under-21s were beaten 3-2 at Bristol City in Group B of the Premier League Cup on Tuesday evening.
Luke Skinner fired the Robins ahead early on, but the Rams hit back and dominated for long spells in the opening 45 minutes before Owen Eames brought them back level with a composed finish.
Ruebin Sheppard and Ephraim Yeboah’s quickfire goals just after the hour mark saw the home side claim the victory at the Robins High Performance Centre, despite Justin Oguntolu’s late strike.
The Under-21s were 8-2 winners over the Robins when they met in the competition at Matlock Town’s Proctor Cars Stadium earlier in the campaign, an emphatic result which was sandwiched between a 2-1 reverse at Sheffield United and a 2-2 draw at home to Stoke City for Danny Maye’s side.
Derby’s line-up included two scholars in Luca Crolla and Charlie Smith, while midfielder Eames was named in the starting line-up after travelling with the first-team to Monday night’s 3-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday.
The Rams are looking to reach the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup for the first time since 2022 and the opening stages saw them enjoy plenty of possession and playing out from the back well.
The hosts had the first chance of the night after nine minutes, though, with Yeboah hitting a first-time effort wide from inside the box after getting on the end of a squared pass from the right-hand side.
They didn’t have to wait long to take the lead, however. A slick City move ended with a cross from the left-hand side by Yeboah being slammed into the back of the net at the far post by Skinner.
Derby responded well by enjoying plenty of possession after going a goal down and almost equalised midway through the half. A good passage of play saw Eames played in behind the home backline and, from a tight angle, he forced a good save from Freddie Godden at his near post with a low drive.
Eames did get Derby back level with just over ten minutes remaining in the first half, following a ruthless counterattack. The Rams won possession following a corner for the hosts and Wales Under-19 international Cruz Allen drove forward with purpose before sending Eames clear on goal to cooly lift the ball over the onrushing Godden.
Derby had chances to go ahead before the first half was out with Marsel Tola and Allen trying their luck from distance, but on both occasions Godden was equal to their efforts by pushing the ball away to safety.
Smith had a shot deflected wide in the opening seconds of the second period for the Rams as they maintained their first-half pressure, while down the other end two minutes later Skinner had an opportunity to restore the Robins’ lead but slashed a first-time effort high and wide.
A long-range free-kick from Allen forced Godden into a save as Derby continued to push to get their noses in front while half-time substitute Cameron Wilson went on a mazy run down the left and eventually got a shot away from 18 yards which was deflected behind for a corner.
It was somewhat against the run of play that City went back in front on 62 minutes. Sheppard, who only came off the bench minutes beforehand, was in the right place at the right time to tap in from close range to latch onto Skinner’s low cross.
Before Derby were able to find their feet and look for a way back into the match, Yeboah added the home side’s third. The striker latched onto a loose pass as the Rams tried to play out from the back inside the penalty area, and he kept his cool to fire a low strike into the bottom corner beyond the despairing dive of Sam Kane.
Maye’s side pushed for a way back into the contest and got a goal back with six minutes of normal time remaining as Oguntolu bravely got on the end of a left-wing cross from substitute Jaydan Davidson to head home to set up a tense finale.
Despite their best efforts and eight minutes of added time, Derby were unable to force a clear-cut opportunity to get back level once more and were left to taste defeat on their travels.
The result leaves Derby third in the Group B standings with two matches left to play, away at Stoke City and at home to Sheffield United, and with qualification for the knockout stages still very much in their hands.
Derby County Under-21s: Kane (GK), Gough, T Gill, Crolla, Osayande (C), Tola (Wähling 73), Richards (Wilson 46), Smith (Davidson 62), Oguntolu, Eames, Allen.
Substitutes Not Used: Dzialuk (GK), Corry.
"We weren’t ourselves in possession tonight," Senior Professional Development Coach Danny Maye admitted after the game.
"Most of their chances came from our poor quality on the ball. This is rare for this group. After a couple of mistakes confidence dropped and we started being too safe and predictable.
"When we did get out, we were then too slow to attack. There was no lack of effort and our pressing did create chances. But overall we were too slow to play forward."
"The players will be disappointed with the gift we gave away for the three goals. But it’s a young group and it is all a part of their learning."
The Under-21s are back in Premier League Cup action on Sunday when they make the journey across the A50 to take on Stoke City (2pm kick-off).
