Derby County Under-23s’ focus returns to Premier League 2 – Division 1 action on Monday evening when they travel to Goodison Park to take on the reigning champions Everton.
The Rams travel to Merseyside looking to build on their deserved local derby win a week ago (kick-off: 7pm) and 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 has no new injury concerns ahead of Monday’s trip to Goodison Park and should have a similar squad to call upon.
That does mean that Kyle McAllister is the only player that is definitely ruled out through injury.
SETTING THE SCENE
Buoyed by their local derby win over Nottingham Forest and qualification through to the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup, Derby County’s Under-23s will now be aiming to claim their first win in the league of the calendar year.
The Rams are without a win in Premier League 2 since their resounding hammering of West Ham United at the London Stadium in November.
Standing in their way this time around is a Toffees side that were crowned league champions.
This campaign, however, David Unsworth’s men sit fifth in the Division 1 standings and will be looking for a return to winning ways themselves after falling to a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal earlier this month.
Everton are a team that Craig Short, Derby’s assistant coach, knows all about.
As a player, he spent four years on the books at Goodison Park and he has described the club’s academy as a ‘benchmark’ for Derby’s, citing that the test they offer is comparable to what you would get in ‘real’ football.
“Darren (Wassall) often measures that Everton are the benchmark for our club with the way they play,” Short told RamsTV.
“David Unsworth is someone I know really well. I used to play with him at Everton and then Sheffield United, so I know what he’s about.
“When we have played Everton during my time in this role, it’s always been more like real football – a style that players would need to be used to if they went into the Football League.
“Everton don’t just play ‘academy style’ football as I call it. They mix it up and are a physical team that produce very good players.
“They won the league last year so we know it’s going to be a tough game, but it’s a great stage for the lads to go out and show what they are capable of.”
Read Craig Short’s and Ethan Wassall’s full pre-match interviews now on dcfc.co.uk.
HOW CAN I ATTEND?
Supporters wishing to back Darren Wassall’s side against Everton will be able to do so by purchasing a ticket upon arrival at Goodison Park.
The Toffees have confirmed ticket prices for the night as follows:
£5 Adults
£3 Concessions
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME?
DERBY COUNTY U23s 0-0 EVERTON U23s
Tuesday 5th December, 2017
Derby County's Under-23s produced a resolute defensive display to draw 0-0 against Everton in the Premier League International Cup when the sides last met at Pride Park Stadium back in December.
Former England Under-21 international Luke Garbutt went closest to opening the scoring for the away side when his effort came back off the bar, with the Rams' best chances coming through the in-form Charles Vernam.
Derby County: Roos; Bogle, Stabana, Wassall, Karic; Babos, Bird, Vernam; Walker (Whittaker, 77), Jakobsen (Mitchell-Lawson, 62), Zanzala (Cresswell, 87)
Substitutes not used: Barnes, Knight, Taylor, Rashid
Everton: Hilton; Markelo, Gibson, Foulds; Evans, Adeniran, Walsh, Garbutt; Bowler (Donkor, 46), Sambou (Mathis, 83), Henen
Substitutes not used: Renshaw, Iversen, Mampala
HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE ACTION?
Rams supporters not attending Mondays fixture at Goodison Park will be able to follow all of the action LIVE and for FREE on RamsTV. As usual, you will also be able to keep up to date with all the key moments across the official Derby County Academy Twitter account, @dcfcacademy, whilst a full match report, match images, reaction and match highlights will follow across dcfc.co.uk and RamsTV after the full-time whistle.
