Four second half goals secured a 4-1 win for Derby County's Under-23s against Bristol City in the Premier League Cup.


Darren Wassall's side hadn't scored in either of their first two group games but goals from Jacob Butterfield, Max Hunt and Kyle McAllister - all between the 67th and 74th minutes - and then Javaun Splatt ensured that the three points came back to Derby, before the home side scored a late penalty.

The win strengthens the Under-23s' position in the second qualification spot in Group F, behind leaders Aston Villa.

The Rams produced the first real chance of the game after 21 minutes, when the lively Jayden Mitchell-Lawson played Josh Shonibare through on goal, but former Derby 'keeper Frank Fielding got a touch and it deflected onto the crossbar.

Moments later, Fielding palmed away McAllister's dangerous low cross, before Mitchell-Lawson fired wide of the target.

Aaron Eyoma was next to force a save as Derby began to take control of the contest.

Henrich Ravas made a good stop to keep the scores level shortly before half-time, as Bristol made a rare break forward that ended with a shot from Marcus Day.

The game sparked into life in the 67th minute when Shonibare was brought down in the penalty area, and Butterfield made no mistake from the spot to give his side the lead.

On 71 minutes, Hunt - captaining the side for the first time - rose highest to double the lead, before McAllister made it 3-0 three minutes later to complete a clinical spell of attacking play.

Splatt came on and sealed the victory in the 90th minute, as he nodded home on the line.

Bristol pulled one back in stoppage time, with Jens Hegeler converting a late penalty.

Bristol City: Fielding, Turner-Williams, Soady, Hegeler, Webb, Ali, Day, Pearson, Bell, Holden, Morton.

Substitutes: Rees, Buse, Williams.

Derby County: Ravas, Wassall, McAllister, Butterfield, Hunt, Karic, Mitchell-Lawson, Knight, Cresswell (Splatt, 76'), Shonibare, Eyoma (Splatt, 61').

Substitutes: Barnes, Splatt, Brown.