Rams secure all three points in dominant display at Moor Farm.

Rams secure all three points in dominant display at Moor Farm.

Following back-to-back defeats, Derby County Under-21s returned to winning ways with an impressive 2-0 victory over Barnsley at Moor Farm Training Ground.
A goal in each half-half from strikers Nathan Tyson and Theo Robinson was enough to secure the three points, as the Rams controlled proceedings from start to finish.
The victory moves Derby to the top of the Under 21 Professional Development League 2 – North, with second-placed Leicester City kicking off later this afternoon.
It was the perfect start for Derby, as in the opening three minutes, Tyson’s deft header found the net following Michael Hoganson’s right-wing corner.
However, the Rams did not have it all their own way in the first period, as Frank Fielding – who was making only his second appearance since suffering a groin injury in the side’s 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough – was called into action to thwart Sam Patterson and John Rooney in quick succession.
Minutes later, Rooney had another curling effort that Fielding tipped round the post, but that was as close as Barnsley came to an equaliser in the opening 45 minutes.
And on 29 minutes, the Rams completed the scoring when Robinson took full advantage of a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area, as he coolly placed it beyond the reach of Lithuanian goalkeeper Lukas Lidakvicius to double the home side’s advantage.
On the stroke of half-time the Rams almost made it three when Robinson’s close-range header fell straight into the arms of Lidakevicius following Conor Doyle’s teasing cross.
Derby continued to control proceedings in the second period, and just three minutes after the interval, Tyson came within inches of netting his second of the game when he hooked Valentin Gjokaj’s downward header narrowly wide of goal.
In the 58th minute, Tyson came even closer to putting the game beyond any doubt as he raced onto a long ball and toe poked an effort towards goal from a tight angle. However, Barnsley’s shot-stopper Lidakevicius was equal to it, and produced a terrific save from point-black range.
In the final quarter, the Tykes almost halved the deficit when Danny Rose found space inside the penalty area and sent a venomous drive towards goal. Fortunately for the Rams, Fielding was on hand to divert the ball onto the crossbar and maintain the side’s two-goal advantage.
Derby County: Fielding (GK); O’Connor, O’Brien, Gjokaj, Lelan (Sharpe 88); Bennett, Freeman, Doyle (Adams 73), Hoganson; Robinson (Thomas 78), Tyson.
Sub Not Used: Morch (GK).