REPORT: Middlesbrough U21s 1-0 Derby County U21s

Development squad's unbeaten run comes to an end at Victoria Park after Charlie Wyke's penalty sends Boro joint top of the Barclays Under-21 Premier League - Division 2

DERBY COUNTY Under 21s' impressive eight-game unbeaten streak has come to an end as Middlesbrough edged a tight battle at Victoria Park.
Charlie Wyke's spot kick 14 minutes from the end after new signing Isak Ssewankambo hauled down Jordan Jones in the area, was enough to send Paul Jenkins' side to the summit alongside Newcastle United.
After edging through to Quarter-Finals of the Under 21 Premier League Cup with a penalty shootout victory over Sunderland, Lee Glover made seven changes to his starting line-up with Kieron Freeman, Tom Naylor, Mason Bennett and Kelle Roos all amongst those to come back into the fold.
Whilst the Rams made it through to the last eight of the competition, Middlesbrough were made to pay for a slow start at Stoke City as they conceded three goals in a 20-minute spell at the start of the contest last week as they lost 4-1 to their opponents.
There was to be no mistakes this time in what was a tightly contested first half at Victoria Park, the home of Hartlepool United.
The home side carved out the first meaningful opening, but they had to wait until as long as the 11th minutes to finally craft a chance against a stubborn Derby backline.
After being picked out in the area, Wyke headed back to Ryan Brobbel in the box, but the winger, on loan at York City last season, flashed an effort wide of Roos' post.
At the other end, Shaquille McDonald forced Connor Ripley into his first save of the contest after he drifted in from the right, but he shot straight at the young 'keeper.
The game continued to swing one way then the other as the two sides cancelled each other out.
Bryn Morris dragged an effort wide midway through the half after Jones pulled the ball back to the midfielder and Derby should have capitalised just before the half time interval after Alban Bunjaku fed a pass to Bennett, but the striker scuffed his shot wide from six yards out.
The tone of the game continued into the second half as both teams failed to produce in the final third at either end of the pitch.
Wyke came close to opening the scoring on 51 minutes after linking up with Brobbel again, but the young forward, who had a loan spell at Hartlepool United earlier in the season, shot narrowly wide.
Bennett was proving to be the most likely to swing the game in the Rams' favour as he twisted and turned the Boro defence, before sending a cross into the area that Bunjaku volleyed wide of Ripley's post.
The home side took control of the contest in the final half an hour and put the Derby backline under intense pressure.
Jones combined with Morris to send a cross-shot into the arms of Roos before Wyke failed to deliver with Mark Kitching's cross from the right as the clock ticked down.
Glover's side were undone, though, with 14 minutes remaining as Ssewankambo brought down Jones in the area and Wyke stepped up to convert past Roos.
Young full back Bradley Halliday failed to double the home side's late on and substitute Offrande Zanzala nearly stole a point for the Rams but he skied his effort from two-yards out as Middlesbrough held out to end Derby's eight game unbeaten streak with their first defeat since the start of October.
Glover's side will be in action again next Tuesday, 20 January, when they travel to face Huddersfield Town in the Final Third Development Cup at the Huddersfield Training Centre (kick-off 1pm).

Middlesbrough U21s: Ripley, B Halliday, Atkinson (Weledji 68), Burn (c), Bennett, Jones, Morris, Maloney (Tinkler 64), Brobbel, Kitching, Wyke

Substitutes not used: Coddington, Cooke, Fewster

Derby County U21s: Roos, Ssewankambo, Sharpe, Freeman, Rawson, T Naylor, McDonald, Guy, Bennett, Bunjaku, Calero

Substitutes: Lowe, Barnes, Hendrie, Vernam, Zanzala

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