Derby County’s Under-21s started their 2023/24 Premier League 2 season with a 2-1 reverse at Leicester City on Monday night.
Derby trailed 2-0 at the break after Amani Richards and Zach Booth struck for the Foxes but striker Owen Oseni set up a tense ending to the contest by pulling a goal back for Jake Buxton’s side late on.
The Under-21s handed debuts to summer signings Ben Radcliffe, Charlie Lindsay and Tony Weston, as well as experienced midfielder and player-coach Bradley Johnson, while two trialists also featured in the starting line-up.
Richards put Leicester ahead after 34 minutes and Booth went on to double their lead deep into added time at the end of the first half.
Derby stayed in the game and eventually pulled a goal back with eight minutes of normal time remaining through Oseni after being set up by fellow substitute Callum Moore.
Leicester had Tawanda Maswanhise sent off for two yellow cards deep into added time and, despite their best efforts, Derby couldn’t get themselves back onto level terms.
Next up in Premier League 2 for the Rams is their first home fixture of the season against Liverpool on Friday evening (7pm kick-off).
Derby County Under-21s: Evans (GK), Bardell (C), Trialist A, Fapetu, Johnson, Cox, Weston (Moore 46), Radcliffe, Brown (Oseni 72), Lindsay (Richards 46), Trialist B.
Substitutes Not Used: Ridd (GK), Bates.