Birmingham Next On The Agenda As Rams Step Up Premier League Cup Campaign

The Rams’ Under-23s will be looking to take a giant stride towards qualification in the Premier League Cup when they take on Birmingham City.

Derby County take on the Blues at St George’s Park on Monday night (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

Timi Max Elsnik will return to action with Derby County’s Under-23s on Monday evening.

The 19-year-old Slovenian midfielder, who is enjoying a season-long loan at Sky Bet League 2 side Swindon Town, has been ruled out of action from the last eight weeks with a hamstring injury.

He has been building up his fitness back at the Rams’ headquarters and will now make his return against the Blues.

Following that, Elsnik is set to return to Swindon later in the week to aid their promotion push.

The likes of Jason Shackell, Ikechi Anya, Jamie Hanson and Mason Bennett could also feature at St George’s Park.

Kyle McAllister continues to be ruled out of action.

SETTING THE SCENE

Win tonight and Derby County’s Under-23s will take a giant stride towards qualification for the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup.

The Rams currently top Group A – in which they are competing with Birmingham, Middlesbrough and local rivals Nottingham Forest – after three games played.

Darren Wassall’s men, however, are without a win in five matches in all competitions.

That said, Derby will be boosted by their comeback a week ago as they fought from two goals down to draw 3-3 with in-form Swansea City.

Far better in the second half to the first, Pat Lyons has called for a 90-minute display’ from the players against the Blues.

“This is a competition we want to progress in,” he said. “We have got ourselves to the halfway stage and we’re joint top.

“In that sense, it is a big game for us. It was a tough match the last time we played them, when we nicked a 1-0 win, and we’re expecting just as tough a game this time around.

“It’s not pressure. You have to look at performances to see if the players are worthy of getting three points and there has been times where they haven’t, but by the same token, there have been times when we have deserved more.

“What we need to do, on Monday, is put a 90-minute performance together.

“At that moment, we are doing playing well in spells and halves, but now it’s about showing everything for one whole game on Monday night.”

Read Pat Lyons’ and Timi Max Elsnik’s full pre-match interviews now on dcfc.co.uk.

HOW CAN I ATTEND?

As was the case last season, supporters will be able to watch Derby County’s Under-23s for FREE at St George’s Park on Monday evening.

No tickets for admission is needed ahead of the fixture at Burton-upon-Trent base, whilst car parking spaces are available on a first come first served basis.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME?

BIRMINGHAM CITY U23s 0-1 DERBY COUNTY U23s
Friday 29th September, 2017

Offrande Zanzala scored the only goal as Derby County Under-23s opened their Premier League Cup campaign with a thoroughly professional 1-0 win away at Birmingham City back in September.

After a low-key first half, the Rams came out firing after the break and they were rewarded by Zanzala’s winner just five minutes into the second period.

First-team squad members George Thorne, Ikechi Anya and Jason Shackell all completed 90 minutes at the Birmingham County FA.

Derby County U23s: Barnes; Bateman, Cover, Shackell, Karic; Thorne, Guy; Walker, Thomas, Anya; Zanzala

Substitutes not used: Ravas, Macdonald, Wassall, Babos, Stabana

Birmingham City U23s: Weaver; Dacres-Cogley, Cleary, Seddon; Hutton, Mulders (Lubala, 68), O’Keeffe, Timms (Storer, 55); Lakin, McFarlane, Bailey (McCoy, 28)

Substitutes not used: Siviter, Martin

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