Derby County’s Under-21s were defeated 2-0 by Aston Villa at Moor Farm Training Ground in Premier League 2 - Division 2 on Saturday afternoon as strikes from Chrisom Afoka and Declan Frith in each half sealed all three points for the visitors.
It was a tough test for the young Rams who showed great resilience throughout the encounter but were ultimately undone by two individual moments of class.
The opening ten minutes were cagey with little to separate the two sides, although it was Derby who went closest to a breakthrough when Ola Ibrahim connected with Jack Bates’ free kick delivery but sent his header just wide of the bottom right hand corner.
Villa then broke the deadlock shortly after in the 11th minute through a well-worked counter-attack. Just inside the attacking half, Tommi O’Reilly sent the ball over the top of the Derby backline, meeting Rory Wilson who squared it for Chrisom Afoka to finish past Alfie Roberts with his side foot from close range.
Roberts was called into action on several occasions as the half unfolded, making a string of saves between the 24th and 35th minute. Twice stopping O’Reilly, diving to catch the first before palming away the second, then denying Afoka from close range.
The Rams burst into gear quickly after the break, twice testing Villa goalkeeper James Wright in quick succession. George Nunn struck from range in the 52nd minute, substitute Sam Sebagabo then unleashed a powerful shot from close range in the 57th minute after visiting defender Kerr Smith slipped over. The latter forcing Wright into a strong save.
However, just six minutes later the away side had doubled their lead through a substitute of their own; Frith. After riding a couple of challenges in the area, the midfielder fired at goal and got his just rewards despite Roberts getting a hand to it.
The Rams went close to halving the deficit through defender Leigh Kavanagh in the 84th minute, but his headed effort flew just over the crossbar from Cian Kelly-Caprani’s set piece delivery and moments later the full-time whistle had been blown to confirm defeat to the visitors.
Next up for Pat Lyons’ Under-21s is a trip to Stoke City on Monday 7th November (7pm kick-off).
Derby County Under-21s: Roberts (GK), Brailsford, Burton (Moloney 79), Bates (Hawkins 63), Solomon, Kavanagh, Nicholas-Davies (Sebagabo 46), Clarke, Nunn (C), Ibrahim (Wheeldon 64), Kelly-Caprani.
Substitute Not Used: Evans (GK).
Match Report by Jacob Hackett.
