Derby County’s Under-18s will be hoping to build on their latest 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers as they face Stoke City on Saturday at Moor Farm Training Ground in the Under-18 Premier League - North (11am kick-off).
Adam Robinson’s side battled back from being 2-0 down to earn a valuable point against Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last league game before the international break.
Daniel Cox’s tidy header and an own goal meant the Under-18s settled for a third draw in a row.
This weekend, however, they look to go one better and pick up an important three points against Stoke.
The Under-18s currently sit 12th in the league table with nine points, while Stoke find themselves one place and one point behind them in 13th.
The Potter’s most recent result was a 3-1 defeat at home to Burnley; a game in which the scoreline was tightly poised until the last few minutes as Burnley struck two late goals.
With Stoke winning just once in their last seven league games and Derby without a win in their last six, Saturday’s affair is one which both teams will desperately want to win.
In the Under-18s’ most recent games, Robinson has found joy in playing with a back three as it helps his side congest the middle of the pitch and win the ball high up the pitch.
Stoke’s Emre Tezgel has found the net on seven different occasions so far this season and will certainly be a player Robinson’s men will aim to nullify.
Derby's top scorer Zion Dixon struck a double in the 2-2 draw against Manchester United three weeks ago and he will be looking to add to his tally following the November international break.
Last season’s meetings between the two sides ended with a 1-0 win for Stoke at Moor Farm back in November 2020 and a 3-2 win away from home for the Rams later in the season.
Robinson’s team will be hoping to mirror the same result this Saturday as they go on the hunt for their first home win of the season.