Under 21s net another win at Moor Farm.

Under 21s net another win at Moor Farm.

Derby County’s Under 21s maintained their impressive start to the season with a 4-2 home victory over Crewe Alexandra on Monday afternoon.

The Under 21s have now won four of their five fixtures in the U21 PDL 2 North and remain unbeaten after seeing off the Railwaymen with a clinical display in front of goal.

Strikers Mason Bennett and Conor Doyle were on target while defender Tom Naylor helped himself to a second half brace with two headers from corners, all of which were sandwiched inbetween two goals for the visitors.

Fellow defender Mark O’Brien also handed Derby a welcome fitness boost by coming through 60 minutes of his comeback from a cruciate ligament injury, while captain Valentin Gjokaj operated in the centre of midfield and didn’t look out of place a competent display.

Bennett got the ball rolling on the half hour by curling home superbly after Andy Dales had played him in on goal, but Crewe equalised before the break from the penalty spot through Harry Clayton after a handball by Naylor.

USA Under-23 international Doyle scored his fourth goal in five appearances for the Under 21s straight after the interval after a defensive lapse to slot home, but Crewe once again responded by drawing level through Brendan Daniels.

Naylor then struck with a quickfire double around the hour mark as Derby made set-plays count. His first came from a Ben Davies corner on the left which Crewe were unable to hack off the line, and his second came just after the hour as he rose highest to power home another Davies delivery.

After a goal feast early in the second period the game settled down somewhat and Derby had more chances to add to their tally late on, but four goals proved to be enough.

Derby County U21: Legzdins, Freeman, Hoganson, Gjokaj, Naylor, O’Brien (Adams), Davies, Dales, Bennett (Thomas), Doyle, Jacobs (Dawkins).

Subs Not Used: Morch.

Crewe Alexandra U21: Garraty, Appleton, White, Waters, Ray, Guthrie, Daniels, Turton, Clayton, Gorman, Nolan.

Subs: Wilson, Bailey.

Derby’s next U21 fixture is in two weeks’ time, on Tuesday 16th October, away to Birmingham City.