Kyron Stabana netted a 90th minute winner as Derby County’s Under 21s defeated Wolves 1-0 at the iPro Stadium.
Kyron Stabana netted a 90th minute winner as Derby County’s Under 21s defeated Wolves 1-0 at the iPro Stadium.
The young full back converted on the cusp of added time to ensure the Rams edged out Wolves in a hard fought Barclays Under 21 Premier League – Division 2 clash.
The Rams’ second game at the iPro Stadium this season was a slow burner and rarely threatened to ignite. Chances came at a premium with both sides cancelling each other in midfield and defence.
That and Derby looked like they were adapting to their new formation. Darren Wassall, the club’s Academy Director, deployed his side in a 4-3-3 formation to bring Kwame Thomas back into the starting XI following the end of his loan spell with Blackpool.
Callum Guy had the only notable opportunity inside the first 20 minutes, seeing a long range effort easily saved by Jon Flatt in the Wolves goal.
Shortly before the hour mark, Guy attempted to turn provider, complementing a run from Ivan Calero with a precise pass into his path, but the Spaniard’s attempted first time lob dropped wide of goal.
Defensively, Wassall’s back five limited Wolves, led by the former Iceland international Bjorn Sigurdarson, to next to nothing throughout the entire first half.
The Rams had their best chance on the cusp of the half time break as Kyron Stabana, the left back, collected possession and saw a curling attempt from outside the area deflected for a corner.
The second 45 minutes followed the same pattern as both sides cancelled each other out on a rain-soaked afternoon in Derbyshire.
Callum Harris, for the hosts, and Calero both shot wide, whilst Mason Bennett had a firm attempt blocked and fizzed another over the crossbar following a short corner routine.
The game lacked spark and needed something to happen as it approached the last 15 minutes.
Ryan Rainey flashed a left foot strike wide as Wolves enjoyed one of their better spells and Calero, ambitiously, cracked a half volley well wide of Flatt’s goal at the other end.
Charles Vernam, the substitute, fired another effort over as Wassall’s side pushed for a late winner, but with the game looking likely to end as it started Stabana popped up to finish beyond Flatt after the ball had broke inside the box as Wassall’s side pinched all three points to return to winning ways.
Derby County U21s: Mitchell, Ssewankambo, Cover, Buxton, Stabana; Guy, Santos (Bunjaku, 77), Calero, Bennett, Zanzala (Vernam, 77), Thomas (Elsnik, 61)
Substitutes not used: Mackay, Koblenz
Wolves U21s: Flatt, Matinyadze, Deslandes, Weeks, Ebanks, Llandell, Carter, Bancessi (Kellerman, 73), Rainey, Sigurdarson (Wilson, 88), Harris, Hunte (Enobakhare, 61)
Substitutes not used: Upton, Breslin
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