Derby County’s Under-18s were eliminated from the FA Youth Cup at the Fifth Round stage following their 4-1 defeat to Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on Tuesday night.


The Rams had seen off the attentions of Sunderland and Sheffield United in the previous two rounds, scoring seven goals in the process, but came up against a Saints side that was in clinical mood.

Danny Maye’s side produced an electric start and Derby took the lead 11 seconds into the match as Owen Eames found Cruz Allen on the edge of the 18-yard-box, who placed his shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

Baylee Dipepa thought he levelled the scoring in the tenth minute for Southampton, but the assistant referee’s flag was raised. The frontman then found himself through on goal again a minute later, but his shot was dragged just wide.

Derby were forced into a substitution before the 15-minute mark, as captain Luke Banks picked up an injury and he was replaced by Rio Canoville.

The hosts squared the game up in the 22nd minute through Sufianu Sillah Dibaga, who picked the ball up on the left, drove into the Derby penalty area and slotted the ball into the back of the next.

The Saints took the lead as the tie entered stoppage time in the first half, as Jay Robinson’s effort rebounded off the woodwork and fell kindly to Dipepa for an easy finish just before the break.

The second half began a lot less frantic than the first, as both sides shared the possession but struggled to create any clear-cut chances.

Southampton scored a third in the 65th minute, as Dipepa was found inside the penalty area for another simple finish following a square pass from Robinson, leaving the Rams with plenty to do as the game entered the final 20 minutes.

The hosts scored again in the 70th minute through substitute Harry Gathercole who got past his man to tap the ball home with his first touch of the evening after coming off the bench.

Despite the defeat there have been plenty of positives on display for the Under-18s in their FA Youth Cup run and they will look to bounce back in league action when they take on Stoke City at Clayton Wood Training Ground on Saturday 8th February (11am kick-off).

Derby County Under-18s: Price (GK), I Gordon, Gill, Tola (Agustien 60’), Banks (C) (Canoville 13), Osayande, Ebuka Agbawodikeizu (Richards 46), Allen, Oguntolu (Green 71), Eames, Osong (Mintus 71).

Substitutes Not Used: Hardy (GK), Hodges.

Words: Joe Bird.