Derby County’s Under-23s will be looking to get their season up and running at Pride Park Stadium when they face Sunderland under the floodlights on Friday night.
The Rams face the Black Cats in their final match before the international break (kick-off: 7pm) and ahead of the meeting, dcfc.co.uk has pulled together all the information you are going to need to know ahead of kick-off…
WHAT’S THE LATEST TEAM NEWS?
Darren Wassall will have a similar squad to choose from once again for the visit of Sunderland.
After playing 45 minutes against Chelsea a week ago, George Thorne could step up his return to action by featuring at Pride Park Stadium.
There is, however, a doubt over Kellan Gordon, who sustained a minor injury during his first team debut in the Carabao Cup win at Grimsby Town on Tuesday night, but he will be given every opportunity to prove his fitness.
Callum Guy, on the other hand, is set to miss out once again.
SETTING THE SCENE
Derby County’s Under-23s will be hoping it is a case of third time lucky when they face Sunderland on Friday night.
The Rams fell to a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal and a 2-0 loss to Chelsea in their first two Premier League 2 Division 1 games of the campaign and will be looking to claim their first points of the 2017/18 season against the Black Cats.
Darren Wassall, Derby’s academy director, says the squad can count themselves unfortunate not to have got off the mark already.
However, he says he has seen enough positive signs from his young squad and firmly believes their fortunes will change in the coming games if they continue to play to the standard they have.
Wassall told RamsTV: “I remember two years ago, we played Arsenal and Aston Villa and lost both of those too despite playing exceptionally well and creating a hatful chances.
“It’s been a similar story so far. Particularly against Arsenal, I can’t remember us creating as many chances as that in a game and not won or, at least, drawn it in my eight years here at the club.
“Nevertheless, there were a lot of positives. We always say here that if you are creating chances and playing well then it’s important not to worry too much.
“We know if we keep doing those things then our fortunes will change. The time to worry is when you are not playing well, you are deservedly getting beaten and you can’t see where your next win is going to come from.
“That’s not the case here, we are pleased with a lot of the individual performances and the team ethic as a whole.”
Wassall Backs Under-23s To Reverse Their Fortunes
I've Returned Stronger And More Determined
HOW CAN I ATTEND?
Supporters will be able to back Darren Wassall’s Under-23s side FREE OF CHARGE this Friday when they face Sunderland at Pride Park Stadium.
There will be no reserved seating and tickets will not be required for this Premier League 2 Division 1 fixture.
Supporters are advised to head straight to the lower section of the East Stand upon their arrival on the night.
The club will also open Car Park A, which is located on the same side as the East Stand, and this will be available on a first come, first served basis.
The meeting with Sunderland will be the Rams’ first at the club’s main stadium of the 2017/18 season.
They are due to play six more of their Premier League 2 - Division 1 fixtures at Pride Park Stadium – against Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City, Manchester United, Manchester City and West Ham United.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME?
DERBY COUNTY U23s 0-0 SUNDERLAND U23s
Wednesday 18th January, 2017
A third game and a third different venue, but for a third successive game Derby County’s Under-23s and Sunderland Under-23s could not be separated as they battled out a 0-0 draw at St George’s Park back in January.
The week previous saw the Rams held to a 2-2 draw by the Black Cats in an entertaining meeting at Pride Park Stadium, but under a thick cloud of fog in Staffordshire, very little separated the two sides.
Jonathan Mitchell pulled off three fine saves to deny Andrew Nelson twice and Rees Greenwood once, whilst it was a story of nearly moments for Darren Wassall’s side, especially in a second half where they, largely, had their visitors penned inside their own half.
The lively Mason Bennett, leading the line, had the best of the moments, but he was denied too as the two sides were forced to settle for a point.
Derby County U23s: Mitchell, Cover, Lelan, Bainbridge, Macdonald; Elsnik, Gordon, Babos (Davidson-Miller, 78); Donohue, Santos (Bird, 72), Bennett
Substitutes not used: Bogle, Ravas, Bateman
Sunderland U23s: Stryjrk, Josh Robson, Tommy Robson (Hume, 49), Beadling, Ledger, Brady, Embleton (Lawson, 70), Ethan Robson, Nelson, Maja (Molyneux, 87), Greenwood
Substitutes not used: Talbot, Wright
HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE ACTION?
Rams supporters not attending Friday night’s fixture will be able to follow all of the action LIVE and for FREE on RamsTV.Click here to watch tonight's game, which will begin following the conclusion of our Sheffield United Preview show!
As usual, you will be able to keep up to date with all the key moments across the official Derby County Twitter account, @dcfcofficial, whilst a full match report, match images, reaction and match highlights will follow across dcfc.co.uk and RamsTV after the full-time whistle.
