Derby County’s Under-21s booked their place in the knockout stages of the 2022/23 Premier League Cup with a 2-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday evening.
Ola Ibrahim’s well taken goal had the Rams in front midway through the first half, but Benicio Baker-Boaitey hit back to equalise for the hosts in the final minute of the opening period.
Osazee Aghatise restored Derby’s lead with 68 minutes played to ensure they topped Group B with three wins, two draws and a single defeat to their name.
Pat Lyons’ side were full value for their win as they registered their fourth successive win in all competitions.
Derby produced a dominant performance on the South Coast throughout after starting the contest on the front foot.
Midfield pair Ibrahim and Aghatise both had early chances to put the Rams ahead before they eventually broke the deadlock after 27 minutes on the clock.
An excellent passage of play by Courtney Clarke down the left, driving at the Brighton defence, eventually saw Aghatise slip the ball to Ibrahim on the edge of the box - and he found the net with a low finish on the turn into the bottom corner.
Despite continuing to enjoy several strong spells of pressure, the Rams were unable to maintain their advantage going into the half-time break. The hosts caught Derby on the counter-attack in the final minute of the first half and Baker-Boaitey drove a low effort beyond Harrison Foulkes.
It was more of the same after the interval for the Rams and Aghatise had a shot saved early in the second half before he eventually got his name on the scoresheet with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Skipper Jake Rooney smartly won possession on halfway and, after bursting forward, he slipped a ball to Aghatise, who had made a smart run in behind the home backline, and he made no mistake with an emphatic finish from inside the box.
Aghatise could have netted another with ten minutes remaining as he dragged an effort wide following good work by Kwaku Oduroh while substitute George Nunn also had a shot saved after being set up by Max Bardell.
Derby saw out five minutes of added time well to ensure they will compete in the knockout stages in the New Year, while another boost for the Rams on the night saw midfielder Connor Dixon make his long-awaited comeback from injury for his first appearance of the season as a second half substitute.
The Under-21s will not be in action again in 2022, with their next outing being a trip to Southampton in Premier League 2 - Division 2 on Friday 6th January (7pm kick-off) to start 2023.
Derby County Under-21s: Foulkes (GK), Bardell, Clarke (Brailsford 87), Bates (Dixon 65), Rooney (C), Solomon, Oduroh, Robinson, Wheeldon (Nunn 65), Ibrahim, Aghatise.
Substitutes Not Used: Roberts (GK), Burton.
Images provided by Paul Hazelwood at Brighton & Hove Albion.
