A goal in each half from Alban Bunjaku and Isak Ssewankambo proved enough for Derby County’s Under 21s as they recorded a 2-0 win over Wolves.
A goal in each half from Alban Bunjaku and Isak Ssewankambo proved enough for Derby County’s Under 21s as they recorded a 2-0 win over Wolves.
In a tightly contested Barclays Under 21 Premier League – Division 2 encounter, it was Bunjaku’s strike that separated the sides at the interval.
The bobbly surface made it difficult for the either side to construct any rhythm and with it, chances were at a premium until Ssewankambo, the January signing, struck late on.
After three straight league wins, Derby started the contest brightly – stringing passes together and taking the game to their opponents in a patient manner.
Bunjaku had the first effort of the afternoon after he was sent through on goal, but Aaron McCarey, the Wolves goalkeeper, came out to deny the Rams forward a clear sight of goal.
Wolves, Division 2’s bottom side, carved out their best opening seven minutes later after Zeli Ismail beat Lee Naylor to a diagonal ball, but as he made his way towards goal, the wideman scuffed a left footed shot into the side netting.
It proved a costly miss for the visitors as Lee Glover’s side began to carve out the better chances – Callum Guy notably forcing the ‘keeper into a fine save after latching on to a weak back pass, before Alefe Santos knocked his follow up over the top of the bar.
Derby did make the breakthrough, though, three minutes before the half hour mark as Bunjaku collected a pass from Naylor and deftly finished past McCarey and into the back of the net via the help of the far post.
He was replaced immediately after picking up an injury in the process, allowing Mason Bennett to make his return to action.
Guy cracked a post with a low effort with five minutes remaining of the half, before the home side were indebted to Kelle Roos in the opening stages of the second 45 minutes for preserving their lead.
After escaping in the box, Donovan Wilson collected a pass and fired a low shot at goal that Roos was equal to, before Regan Upton forced the Derby shot stopper into another fine save.
The Rams stood firm and doubled their lead in the latter stages of the contest as Isak Ssewankambo (pictured) applied the finishing touch to the home side’s best move of the contest.
Starting from the full back, he weaved his way through a number of challenges before exchanging passes with Kwame Thomas and burying a low left foot shot into the bottom corner.
Connor Hunte’s dangerous free kick from range aside, Derby held their opponents at arm’s length as they tightened their grip on a top two position.
Lee Glovers side return to action in just under two weeks when they travel to face Newcastle United on Wednesday 15 April, kick-off: 7pm.
Derby County U21s: Roos, Ssewankambo, Barker, Whitbread (Koblenz, 46), L Naylor, Hanson, Guy, Santos, Bunjaku (Bennett, 28, Lowe, 51), Calero, Thomas
Substitutes not used: Hendrie, Etheridge
Wolves U21s: McCarey, Matinyadze, O’Hanlon, Ortega (Enobakhare, 57), Haydn (Ronan, 74), Upton, Ismail (Bancessi, 62), Kellerman, Wilson, Hunte, Graham
Substitutes not used: Simpson, Burgoyne
