3/1 To Win
Derby County Under-23s fell to defeat on the road as they
were beaten 2-1 by Blackburn Rovers at the Lancashire FA’s County Ground.
Derby fell behind midway through the first half as Jared Harlock fired past goalkeeper Harry Seaden to put the home side ahead.
But, two minutes into first half stoppage time, Derby were level as Osazee Aghatise somehow found a way past the Blackburn goalkeeper, Jordan Eastham, as the ball squirmed under his legs.
The Rams created a number of chances but just could not find a way past the goalkeeper, and they would rue those missed opportunities 20 minutes from time as Blackburn found the winning goal through Harry Leonard’s close range strike.
Pat Lyons was able to name a recognised central defender in his starting line up for the first time in a long time as Harrison Solomon returned from injury to take his place alongside Courtney Clarke at the back.
And it was Clarke who almost gave the Rams the lead three minutes into the game as he met a corner by Louie Watson but his header was saved by Blackburn goalkeeper Jordan Eastham.
Connor Dixon, who also returned to the squad following injury, showed some neat early touches as he grew into the game, as the home side started to threaten.
Jake Garrett forced a save from Rams stopper Harry Seaden, whilst skipper for the night Bradley Dack got into pockets of space but could not find the final ball.
He did think he had opened the scoring on 20 minutes as he met a cross at the back post and headed home, but the referee signalled for a free kick and disallowed the goal.
But, they didn’t have to wait too long to take the lead as Harlock gave the home side the lead. He broke into the penalty area and poked the ball past the onrushing Seaden to score the opening goal of the night.
Derby had a great chance to equalise a minute later as Josh Shonibare found himself free one-v-one with the goalkeeper but he snatched at his effort and it went wide.
After Blackburn thought they had doubled their lead as Harry Leonard’s header was flagged offside, the Rams started to grow into the game.
And they should really have been level. Good work from a set piece saw Stretton free in front of goal but he was denied on the line, whilst soon after skipper Louie Watson smashed an effort wide from inside the penalty box.
Derby were taking the game to their hosts as Stretton was twice thwarted before the half time interval, but deep into additional time, they did grab the equaliser.
Aghatise dispossessed the Blackburn defender in the penalty area, took it around a man and shot. The goalkeeper looked set to make a comfortable save, but the ball somehow went underneath his legs and over the line as the Rams were level at the half time interval.
Derby continued at a good intensity at the start of the second half, and created chances. Solomon saw a header saved from close range, whilst Blackburn goalkeeper Eastham was out quickly to deny Stretton from close range.
The Rams worked hard but with the home side edging themselves back into the game, they were gifted their lead back with 20 minutes remaining.
A mistake at the back allowed Garrett the chance to run through on goal. He raced into the box and unselfishly found Leonard who was in space and he found the corner to restore Blackburn’s lead.
The Rams still created chances as Stretton stretched their defence, but twice he was denied by Eastham in the Blackburn goal.
And it would be the home side who would finish the stronger of the two sides as Dack saw a 20-yard effort deflect wide, whilst substitute Harrison Wood forced a smart stop from Seaden as the Rams fell to defeat against Rovers.
Blackburn Rovers: Eastham, Gent, Haddow, Wharton, Saadi (Pratt 46’), Barnes (Gamble 67’), Harlock (Wood 84’), Garrett, Leonard, Dacl (C), Durrant.
Substitutes: Dowling, Caddick.
Derby County: Seaden, McDonald, Grewal-Pollard, Watson (C), Solomon, Clarke, Shonibare (Ibrahim 76’), Dixon (Matthews 81’), Cybulski, Aghatise, Stretton.
Substitutes: Evans, Wilson, Brailsford.
