3/1 To Win
Derby County Under-18s will put their seven-match unbeaten streak on the line on Saturday when they face a trip to Premier League – North leaders, Everton, kick-off 12pm.
Justin Walker’s side will travel to the Finch Farm Training Complex to take on an Everton side who are a point clear at the top of the league table, having yet to taste defeat in their eight league matches.
The Rams are in scintillating form, having won all of their last five matches in all competitions, the latest of which saw them come from behind against West Bromwich Albion last Saturday.
Jaden Charles, Liam Thompson, Morgan Whittaker, Jason Knight and Jack Stretton all got on the scoresheet, with an incredible second-half display earning Derby a 5-1 victory at the West Bromwich Albion Training Ground.
It was the Baggies who took the lead on home soil when Eoin Ashton fired his free-kick past Sam French and in shortly before half-time.
With less than half-an-hour remaining, Derby were still trailing, substitute Charles smashed in a thunderous free-kick of his own, in what proved to be the first of five unanswered goals in the space of 27 minutes for the visitors.
Four minutes later, Thompson put Derby ahead, tapping into an empty net after being picked out at the back post by Charles’ cross.
A swift counter attack, which culminated into the Rams’ third goal of the match saw Whittaker calmly finish after being sent clear on goal by Knight.
Midfielder Knight, who was playing his first game since returning from international duty with Republic of Ireland’s under-19s, got a goal of his own, dribbling the ball past Baggies goalkeeper Joshua Griffiths before slotting into an empty net.
The Rams completed the onslaught in the 89th minute, as Stretton added his 12th goal of the season after being teed up by Whittaker.
Derby will be aiming to hand Everton their first league loss of the season, who were 7-1 winners at home to Newcastle United last weekend.
When these two sides last met, Derby fell to a 2-1 defeat at the Training Centre in Partnership with the University of Derby in January.
Derby currently sit in fourth position in the league table, five points behind their upcoming opponents Everton. A win for the Rams on Saturday could move them up into third place.
Words by Jonty Colman
