Derby County’s Under-23s will be aiming to take a giant stride towards Premier League 2 Division safety when they take on West Ham United in their final home game of the 2017/18 season.


The Rams take on the Hammers at the Training Centre in partnership with the University of Derby (kick-off: 3pm) 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 looks like to be in position to name a strong as possible Under-23s side for the meeting with West Ham United.

The only player he will certainly be without is Kyle McAllister, who is struggling with a groin injury

The likes of Jayden Bogle and Luke Thomas could feature.


SETTING THE SCENE

Derby County’s Under-23s have their destiny in their own hands as they look to cement their position in Premier League 2 Division 1 for the 2018/19 season.

With just two games remaining, the Rams know a win over West Ham United will move them back out of the relegation places heading into the final game and relegate Manchester United in the process ahead of a final day meeting with league leaders Leicester City.

Darren Wassall’s side defeated West Ham United 5-1 at the London Stadium and Craig Short told us that it is one of the finest results the Under-23s have enjoyed in their time as a Category 1 Academy.

The Under-23s’ assistant coach, however, is expecting a very different challenge from the Hammers this time around – especially with them arriving buoyed by their recent 4-0 win over reigning champions Everton.

“It (the London Stadium) was a nice place to do it. But we had to sit very deep and defend for long periods of time, especially in the second-half they had a very good striker who Joe Bateman had a good battle with,” Short told RamsTV.

“Then we got all our goals on the break and I think a lot of our chances and goals we score are transition on the break. We had Offrande’s pace that day and he caused them a few problems.

“But West Ham will be a bit of a different proposition on Monday, I’m sure, after what they did to Everton. So our lads are up for the challenge.”

Read Craig Short and Alex Babos’ full pre-match interviews now on dcfc.co.uk.

LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE HAMMERS?

WEST HAM UNITED U23s 1-5 DERBY COUNTY U23s
Friday 17th November, 2017


Offrande Zanzala returned from his loan spell at Chester to score twice and lead Derby County’s Under-23s to a stunning 5-1 win at the London Stadium against West Ham United back in November.

The striker opened the scoring after 30 seconds before completing his brace before half time, with the in-form Luke Thomas, Charles Vernam and Jayden Bogle completing the rout. Grady Diangana grabbed a late consolation for the hosts.

West Ham United: Trott; Johnson (Scully, 63’), Pike (Coventry, 50), Akinola, Powell; Quina, Makasi; Kemp (Diangana, 56), Samuelsen, Haksabanovic; Martinez

Substitutes not used: Matrevics, Well

Derby County: Barnes; Bogle, Bateman, Wassall, Lowe; Guy, Thorne; Thomas (Walker, 85), Vernam (Bird, 74), Babos (Macdonald, 69); Zanzala

Substitutes not used: Ravas, Jakobsen

HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE ACTION?

Rams supporters not attending Monday’s fixture 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.