Derby County’s Under-21s were beaten 3-0 by Norwich City at Loughborough University Stadium in Premier League 2 - Division 2 on Monday night.

Abu Kamara’s goal just before half-time and Kenneth Aboh’s second half double ensured it was the Canaries that collected all three points.

January Transfer Window signings from Arsenal Billy Vigar and Kido Taylor-Hart were handed starts for Derby while another attacking addition, Owen Oseni, was named on the bench in the Under-21s’ first home game of 2023 after signing from Irish side Waterford recently.

Derby had to soak up periods of pressure from the visitors in the opening 45 minutes, while down the other end Vigar went close to a debut goal, but the Canaries broke the deadlock five minutes before the break as winger Kamara found the net.

Aboh went on to add the visitors’ second and third goals of the evening either side of the hour mark to leave the Rams with a mountain to climb in the final half an hour.

The result leaves Pat Lyons’ side still searching for their first point this term following a challenging few months for the youthful and inexperienced Under-21s in the league, but they have an East Midlands derby against Nottingham Forest to look forward to in the Round of 16 of the Premier League Cup later this month.

Before then, the Under-21s are back in action next Monday when they make the long journey north to take on Sunderland at Eppleton Colliery Welfare (7pm kick-off).

Derby County Under-21s: Evans (GK), Oduroh, Kelly-Caprani, Robinson, Brailsford, Grewal-Pollard, Taylor-Hart, Bates, Vigar (Oseni 82), Lo-Everton, Aghatise (Ibrahim 67).

Substitutes Not Used: Moore, Roberts (GK), Fapetu.

Norwich City Under-21s: Aziaya (GK), Clarke, Shipley, Hills, Warner (Stewart 70), Watt (McIntosh 27), Kamara (Welch 46), Duffy, Matos (Coker 59), Aboh, Brooke.

Substitutes Not Used: N/A