3/1 To Win
Derby County’s Under-23s take on Arsenal in their final league game before Christmas on Friday, and Craig Short has backed the side to continue their progression after ‘going up a level’ in the first half of this season.
The Rams narrowly avoided relegation to Premier League 2 – Division 2 last term but Darren Wassall’s side have put together an impressive start this time around.
With a number of big-name scalps already under their belt, Short wants the side to go to Arsenal and continue a great week for the academy, after the Under-18s knocked Manchester United out of the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday night.
He told RamsTV: “We’ve gone up a level from last year, at that point the players were probably a little bit in awe when they came up against the big names.
“Arsenal are probably the best team that we’ve played against, and despite the result last time out [a 3-2 defeat] we were very pleased with the performance level in that game.
“It’s been a great week so far, and hopefully we can cap it off.”
Short picked out a key area where the Under-23s have improved so far this season that was demonstrated by recent games against Leicester City and Everton.
He said: “Sometimes, you watch Under-23s games and you see some nice football, but there isn’t that physicality about it.
“We played Leicester and Everton who were both really tough and physical, and those sides are probably a little bit ahead but our players are now understanding what it takes to go to that next level and play senior football.”
Along with the physical side, Short also believes that the players have learned how to face big tests mentally as well.
He added: “Manchester City for example, they recruit from everywhere in the world and spend a fortune on young players.
“Now, the players have realised that they’re only names, and they’ve matched them.”
