Derby County’s Under-21s fought back from a goal down to claim a 2-1 victory against Salford City B in The Central League on Tuesday afternoon.


Robbie Cleary put Salford ahead in the latter stages of the first half, but Derby hit back to equalise just after the break through Keilen Robinson’s wind-aided long-range effort.

Zayne Blake went on to score the winner midway through the second half at Moor Farm Training Ground.


The win, following the early season successes over Wrexham and Preston North End, means the Rams’ Under-21s have racked up three victories from three in the competition.

Derby had an early chance as Riley Moloney glanced Jake Rooney’s free-kick wide while Salford’s first chance midway through the half saw Kyrell Malcolm have a shot blocked on the line by centre-back Robinson.

Cleary put Salford ahead ten minutes before half-time after latching onto a pass from Malcolm and he kept his cool to slot the ball away beyond Rohan Luthra in the Derby goal.


Derby pushed for a leveller before the break, but their only sight of goal came from Billy Gough, who dragged an effort wide for a goal-kick.

Jake Buxton’s side hit back to equalise a few minutes into the second half as Robinson launched the ball forward from close to the halfway line and, with the benefit of the wind, it guided his effort beyond Salford goalkeeper James Carr and into the back of the net.

Derby took the lead midway through the second half when a lightning counter from a Salford corner ended with substitute Blake racing away on the left and slotting the ball low beyond Carr.


The second period also saw the introduction of four Under-16s players off the bench in the form of Charlie Smith, Tom Marriott, Kacey Gill and goalscorer Blake.

The Under-21s’ next outing in The Central League is on Tuesday 11th March at Bolton Wanderers (1pm kick-off), while their next competitive outing is in Premier League 2 with a visit to Nottingham Forest on Monday 10th February (7pm kick-off).

Derby County Under-21s: Luthra (GK), Rooney (Marriott), Moloney, D Robinson, Cox (C), K Robinson, Perry, Stepien-Iwumene, Wheeldon (Gill), Gough (Smith), Davidson (Blake).

Substitute Not Used: Shattell (GK).