REPORT: Derby County U21s 2-1 Swansea City U21s

Two goals in the space of two minutes saw Derby County’s Under 21s recover from a goal down to defeat to Swansea City 2-1 at St George’s Park.

Two goals in the space of two minutes saw Derby County’s Under 21s recover from a goal down to defeat to Swansea City 2-1 at St George’s Park.

After Ollie McBurnie had headed the Welsh side in front just before the hour mark, Max Lowe got Darren Wassall’s side back on level terms with a fluke clearance from the left following heavy pressure from the home side.

Little more than 120 seconds had elapsed when Ivan Calero tapped in a teasing right wing cross to complete the comeback as Derby recorded their second Barclays Under 21 Premier League – Division 2 win of the season.

Starting the better, the visitors saw an early free kick glanced narrowly wide of Jonathan Mitchell’s far post, whilst Max Lowe was quick to recover after Ollie McBurnie was sent through on goal.

Ivan Calero’s early deflected wide, Swansea controlled larger spells of possession as they patiently tried to play their way in between the lines.

Ryan Hedges sent a header wide after a prolonged spell of the ball, whilst at the other end Calero drove a cross shot well wide of Josh Vickers’ far post.

With just over 30 minutes on the clock, Derby carved out the opening of the half as Offrande Zanzala drove at the Swans’ backline.

Back-pedalling, Alban Bunjaku peeled away on the right, but saw his poke at goal turned behind for a corner.

With Derby gaining momentum, Charles Vernam drove an effort from range over and wide whilst McBurnie spurned a clear sight of goal by heading tamely at Mitchell.

Gregor Zabret was introduced at the beginning of the second half and was quickly on hand to keep the scores level.

A swift move from the home side saw the ball fall into the path of Bunjaku, whose low drive was beaten away by the ‘keeper, before the Swans recovered to clear their lines.

On a rare venture forward, Swansea broke the deadlock through the lively McBurnie, who, deftly, flicked a cross from the right beyond the outstretched fingertips of Mitchell.

Bunjaku flashed another effort as the Rams upped the pressure on their opponents, whilst Zabret was nearly caught out by a long hopeful punt forward, but did enough to turn it behind for a corner.

The home side’s pressure eventually told – first with 15 minutes remaining as Lowe’s fluke hit from the left flew over the head of Zabret and into the bottom far corner.

Derby did not stop there, though, and turned the game on its head only two minutes later as Calero converted a teasing cross from the right.

The lively Spaniard had the chance to kill the contest off as Swansea pushed for an equaliser but he saw a low left foot shot cleared off the line by a recovering defender, whilst Shaquille McDonald, the substitute, thundered the foot of the post.

A late scramble in the Derby area saw the Swans also denied on the line but the Rams had done enough and are back to winning ways.

Derby County U21s: Mitchell, Ssewankambo, Wassall, Koblenz, Lowe; Guy, Vernam (Santos, 64), Calero, Bunjaku (Gordon, 88); Bennett, Zanzala

Substitutes not used: Mackay (GK), Cover

Swansea City: Vickers (Zabret, 45), Shephard, Alfei, Fulton, Rodon, Gogic, Biabi, Sheehan, McBurnie, Jones, Hedges

Substitutes not used: Jones, Davies