Under-21sDerby County Under-21s began their 2024/25 Premier League 2 campaign with a tough test against Aston Villa Under-21s on Friday night.
Jake Buxton’s side fell to a 3-1 defeat at the Bodymoor Heath Training Ground in their first match of the new campaign.
Derby's on-loan first team striker Jerry Yates featured alongside the young Rams as he continues to build up his match minutes while serving a three-match suspension at senior level, picked up at the end of the 2023/24 season when he was playing for parent club Swansea City.
A first-half double from Villains striker Ben Broggio saw the hosts take control of the contest before Rico Richards' second half goal claimed all three points. Chances for Alex Stepien-Iwumene and Yates were warded off by a stubborn Villa defence.
Emmanuel Ilesanmi got one back for the Rams, but it was too little too late to trouble the hosts.
Derby looked to mount pressure early on as some link-up play between Niall McAndrew and Stepien-Iwumene won a corner, but the resulting set-piece was well cleared by Villa’s defence.
Villa took the lead in the tenth minute of the game as winger Kaden Young’s hard work gave Broggio a simple job as the striker scored from inside the six-yard box.
The two combined again just two minutes later when Villa striker Rory Wilson found Young in space out wide, where he once again found Broggio to tap home.
The Rams' first chance came when Stepien-Iwumene and Yates combined to create space for McAndrew at the far post, but the attacker was denied by Ethan Amundsen-Day’s physical defending in the box.
Derby goalkeeper Jack Thompson had to be alert in the 31st minute as Young ran in behind and looked likely to score. But the onrushing Derby shot-stopper swept up the ball in confident fashion to deny the lively Villa attacker.
Yates looked to take a chance minutes later as Harry Hawkins slotted him through on goal, but a sliding Smith put in an impressive block to repel the Rams' striker.
Derby started to gain more control of the game and won a free kick in a dangerous area. Morten Spencer’s delivery was enticing for centre-back Ben Radcliffe who was emerging at the back post, but his outstretched leg couldn’t make contact with the ball.
Derby got their feet on the ball in the second half, as some link-up between Hawkins, Yates, Stepien-Iwumene and captain Darren Robinson looked to play in Spencer on the edge of the box, but the Villa defence was alert to the rapid move, and it was curtailed before any damage could be done.
Broggio looked for his hat-trick when the frontman burst behind the defence in the 53rd minute, but some steely defending by Derby midfielder Hawkins denied Villa as his confident sliding challenge saw the ball behind for a corner.
Jack Perry looked to have an instant impact, as some excellent work on the wing by the substitute fashioned a chance for Stepien-Iwumene to strike, but his shot was met well by Villa goalkeeper Sam Lewis.
The Rams went close in the 80th minute as Freddie Turley fired the ball across the face of goal to Ilesanmi, however the Derby attacker couldn’t covert as the ball flew just behind his stride.
Yates played a neat give-and-go with Ilesanmi in the 83rd minute, as he responded to the Derby substitute’s flicked back heel with a first-time shot that bent just beyond the post.
But the Rams' positive spell was put to bed by a goal on the break from Richards.
Ilesanmi got a goal for the Rams with a few mintues left, as the Villa goalkeeper’s clearance cannoned off the Derby striker and went into the net.
Defender Max Bardell looked to set up Yates in the final knockings of the game but the striker was denied by the post and ended Derby's hopes of a late fightback.
Derby County Under-21s: Thompson (GK), Bardell, Moloney (Cox 78), D Robinson (C), Radcliffe, K Robinson, McAndrew (Perry 56), Hawkins, Yates, Stephen-Iwumene (Turley 78), Spencer (Ilesanmi 65).
Unused Substitute: Shattell (GK).
Aston Villa Under-21s: Lewis (GK), Pierre, Smith, Amundsen-Day, Patterson, Young (Katsukunya 76), Alcock, Borland, Broggio (Richards 62), Wilson (Jimoh 62), Moore (Lutz 65).
Unused Substitute: Proctor (GK).
Jake Buxton’s side will play out their first match of the 2024/25 Central League competition against Preston North End on Tuesday 20th August (2pm kick-off).
Their next Premier League 2 fixture will come three days later on Friday 23rd August when the Under-21s play their first home game of the campaign, at Matlock Town’s Proctor Cars Stadium, against Manchester City (7pm kick-off).
Images kindly provided by Neville Williams (Aston Villa).
