Proctor Cars Stadium
Derby County Under-21s exited the Premier League Cup after a narrow 2-1 defeat to table-toppers Sheffield United on Tuesday evening.
Second-half substitute Cameron Wilson had levelled the contest after making a near-instant impact off the bench, but in-form striker Marshall Francis netted twice for the visitors to prevent the Rams from reaching the knockout stages.
On a bitterly cold evening at Moor Farm Training Centre - the rearranged venue after the pitch at Alfreton Town was deemed unplayable - goalmouth action was limited in the early exchanges, with a wild Sam Aston free-kick the only effort on goal.
Derby came close to opening the scoring through Owen Eames. The Rams' number 10 drove towards goal after he was put through by a clever ball over the top from Tristan Gill but fired wide from the edge of the 18.
It was the Blades who took the lead on the half-hour mark, as Francis got his first of the night. Owen Hampson found a pocket of space, playing the ball into the advancing Sai Sachdev, who squared first-time for Francis to drill beyond Sam Kane.
The Rams pushed for parity in the closing stages of the half, as Johnson Osong’s cross forced Luke Faxon into evasive action, before the visiting ‘keeper tipped over Cruz Allen’s long-range effort from the resulting corner.
Kane’s outstretched boot kept the deficit at one heading into the break, with the Rams’ shot-stopper extending his right leg to keep out Hampson from close proximity.
Danny Maye made a double change at the interval, and it was one of those changes – the introduction of Wilson – which sparked new life into Derby.
The goal came in similar fashion to the visitors’. Cruz Allen and right-back Freddie Turley combined, as the latter skipped to the byline to pull back for the waiting Wilson, who was on hand to tuck the ball in off the far post.
He almost had a second minutes later, rocketing a strike from 25 yards towards the top corner, but Faxon was equal to it on this occasion.
Turley’s advancing runs caused trouble again for the Blades’ backline, this time playing into Jerome Richards’ path, but the half-time substitute was denied by Alfie Hough’s sprawling last-ditch block.
With Derby well on top, it came against the run of play when Sheffield United retook the lead 13 minutes from time. Blades skipper Aston rolled in Francis, who beat Kane at the near post to notch his sixth goal of the competition.
The Rams searched hard for a second equaliser and had the ball in the net in the dying embers, but the referee’s whistle – blown for a foul on Faxon – denied what they thought was the leveller.
The defeat means Stoke City will join Sheffield United in qualifying from Group B for the knockout stages, with the Blades concluding the group with a 100 per cent record.
Derby County Under-21s: Kane (GK), Turley, Gill, Canoville, Osayande (C), Tola, Davidson (Wilson 46), Allen, Oguntolu, Eames (Smith 62), Osong (Richards 46).
Unused Substitutes: Price (GK), Banks.
“We are all disappointed to go out tonight," Senior Professional Development Coach Danny Maye said after the full-time whistle.
“I’ve seen us play better, but it was still a game we shouldn’t have let slip. Neither team had enough control, with more chances coming from transitions.
“The first goal we conceded was frustrating. We needed to defend the switch much better and then lock on in the box before the cross came in.
“In the second half, we improved. Our movement was much better, and we had a lot more control in the game. We still didn’t get enough numbers in the box, but we got into good positions to win the game.
“At 1-1, we got hit on the counter; it was naive so not see out the game, especially in a position to go through to the next round. The players will be disappointed, but these moments will remind them how important it is to dominate both boxes and manage the game.”
Derby County Under-21s are back in action on Friday 9 January, taking on Sunderland in Premier League 2 action at Moor Farm Training Centre (7pm kick-off).
