Derby County finished their pre-season schedule with a 2-0 victory over Notts County on Sunday afternoon at Meadow Lane.

Wayne Rooney named a young starting XI, with Craig Forsyth being the veteran in the back line of scholar Dylan Williams as well as teenagers Festy Ebosele and Eiran Cashin.

Colin Kazim-Richards also got another run-out from the start, leading the line and the youngsters around him.

Kamil Jozwiak also got his first outing of the pre-season after an extended break due to his international commitments with Poland in the UEFA European Championships.

After a positive start in the opening half, Derby earned a deserved lead just ahead of half-time though a powerful header from centre-back Cashin from a corner.

With less than five minutes left to play, the Rams doubled their lead after Ebosele was taken down and Tom Lawrence chipped the penalty kick down the middle of the goal.

It was a bright start for the Rams who controlled possession and were composed out of possession and found a number of chances in the opening ten minutes. Louie Sibley cut back for Colin Kazim-Richards to fire towards goal from inside the area, but his effort was well blocked by Jim O’Brien.

The forward had another opportunity minutes later, but he wasn’t able to get enough on the ball to challenge the keeper and it was a comfortable save.

Ebosele moved to his usual right-back position for the first time this pre-season and showed his strength and speed in the opening stages, as he made a run down the right to fight past two markers, but just ran out of space to get off a cross at the by-line.

Just moments later, on the 17-minute mark, he picked up a loose ball in the middle of the Magpies’ half and quickly set Isaac Hutchinson who rifled a powerful shot from 25 yards out to force a strong save from Sam Slocombe.

On the half hour mark Notts County had their first opportunity and it was the first time there was a lapse from the Rams out of possession.

A good move from the Magpies saw Ed Francis float a superb ball into the box and Richard Brindley had ran into space to meet it, but the ball was slightly too high to get enough power and direction into the header.

The next few minutes saw a good spell for the home side and moments later another good move around the area called upon good defending from the Rams. Ebosele made a brilliant block with his outstretched right foot to deny a fierce shot from Joel Taylor.

The Rams were able to ride the spell and with less than five minutes left to play in the half, they took the lead.

A lovely through ball from Thompson found Kazim-Richards, who drew a low save from Slocombe. Louie Sibley took the resulting corner, delivering it perfectly to the back post and Cashin bulleted a header across goal to lash in the back of the net.

The start of the second half was more of the same from the Rams with Hutchinson picking a shot within two minutes, calling Slocombe in to make a strong low save to deny his powerful effort.

It was then over to the hosts to have a go, or two, and on both occasions, it was Kyle Wootton who came close ten minutes after half time. First, he received a cross from Connell Rawlinson in the six-yard box, but missed the target and struck the cross bar.

Soon after he was denied by another good block from Ebosele when he looked set to score again.

Young defender Cashin looked for his second of the afternoon just ahead of the 60-minute mark.

He received a ball back across the area from Forsyth, controlled it with his chest with his back to the goal before attempting an over-head left-footed kick which was sent just over the cross bar.

With less than five minutes left to play, Ebosele won the ball back in the Magpies' half, drove forward and into the area before he was tripped by Kyle Cameron.

Lawrence stepped up to the spot and chipped his effort straight down the middle to beat Slocombe.

The Rams ended comfortably with the victory which will lead them well in their Sky Bet Championship campaign. Derby will host Huddersfield Town next Saturday to open their 2021/22 campaign.

Notts County: Slocombe (GK), Cameron (C), Rawlinson, Brindley, Taylor, Kelly-Evans (Nemane, 76), Francis, Palmer, O’Brien (Hondermarck, 76), Roberts (Sam, 62), Wootton.

Substitutes: Brooks, Chicksen, McGregor

Derby County: Marshall; Ebosele, Cashin, Forsyth (C), Williams; L Thompson (Bird, 62), Hutchinson (Shinnie, 62); Jozwiak (Byrne, 73), Watson (Stretton, 62), Sibley (Lawrence, 62); Kazim-Richards.

Substitutes: Roos (GK)