Derby County Under-18s have secured a spot in the Premier League Cup quarter-finals with a 4-2 win over Aston Villa.
Tyree Wilson and Morgan Whittaker both netted braces as victory continued their 100 percent record in this season’s competition.
Whittaker got his first of the match when Archie Brown’s blistering run down the left side led to a cross, which was converted by a fierce strike by Whittaker, one that was too powerful for the hands of Villa goalkeeper Akos Onodi.
Three minutes later, Wilson scored from the penalty spot after he was fouled in the penalty area.
The winger doubled his tally for the match with less than 20 minutes on the clock at the end of an excellent Derby move. A great run from Festy Ebosele let to his delivery into the penalty area, one that evaded striker Whittaker, but was received well by Wilson, who cut inside and found the bottom corner with a driven strike.
Villa reduced the deficit shortly before half-time. Brown’s foul on Bradley Burton in the penalty area led to Ben Guy’s penalty. Derby goalkeeper Bradley Foster-Theniger recreated his penalty saving heroics that helped Justin Walker’s side beat Blackpool in the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday, only for Guy to score the rebound.
Hosts Villa again clawed a goal back after the restart, when Michael Tait turned in Charlie Farr’s cross.
Derby sealed victory in stoppage time through Whittaker, who volleyed home after being teed up by a clever cross from wide by two-goal Wilson.
What’s To Come…
Victory for the Rams seals their spot in the Premier League Cup quarter-finals, having finished at the top of Group C with three wins in three.
That was Derby’s final competitive match of 2018; their first match of 2019 sees them host Manchester United in the Premier League – North at the Training Centre in Partnership with the University of Derby.
A week later, they will face a trip to the Blackburn Rovers Training Centre to take on Blackburn, also in league action.
Next Five…
Derby County U18s Vs Manchester United U18s- Saturday 12th January 2019 (kick-off: 12pm)
Blackburn Rovers U18s Vs Derby County U18s- Saturday 19th January 2019 (kick-off: 12:30pm)
Derby County U18s Vs Manchester City U18s- Saturday 2nd February 2019 (kick-off: 12pm)
Middlesbrough U18s Vs Derby County U18s- Saturday 23rd February 2019 (kick-off: 1pm)
Derby County U18s Vs Newcastle United U18s- Saturday 2nd March 2019 (kick-off: 1pm)
Words by Jonty Colman