3/1 To Win
Derby County’s Under-23s produced a battling performance at Pride Park Stadium to beat Wolfsburg 1-0 in their opening game of the Premier League International Cup.
Darren Wassall’s side had to play second fiddle for most of the evening but the in-form Luke Thomas made the difference as the game went into the closing stages, with his cross leading to the winner as Dominik Franke put the ball past his own goalkeeper.
Derby spent large periods without the ball in the early stages and it was clear from the off that Wassall’s team were in for a very different test.
Marvin Stefaniak looked lively for the visitors and he stung the palms of Jonathan Mitchell with a powerful effort after 10 minutes, before hitting another shot over the crossbar after picking up a clearance from Max Lowe.
Wolfsburg could have easily been down to 10 men midway through the half when Malcom Badu brought down Ikechi Anya with an almost identical foul to the one that saw him booked seven minutes previously, but the referee declined to show the second yellow card.
Charles Vernam had the Rams’ best opportunities in the first half, forcing a save from Phillip Menzel after a beautifully constructed passing move, and Menzel was equal to another chance on the stroke of half time.
Derby went close just after the break through Alex Babos’ deflected effort, but the German side then took control, going close through Stefanik, Victor Osimhen and then Murat Saglem.
With 15 minutes to go the Rams caught Wolfsburg cold with a swift counter-attack, George Thorne turned away from his man in midfield before releasing Luke Thomas down the left-hand side, and the winger’s low cross was too good for the visitors’ backline as Dominik Franke turned into his own net.
The Wolfsburg coach was sent to the stands as frustrations boiled over for the away side and they should’ve been level with three minutes to play, but substitute Daniel Hawslik placed his shot wide.
Derby held out though and went on to extend their impressive run of recent form and get their cup campaign off to a winning start.
Derby County: Mitchell; Bogle, Bateman, Cover, Lowe; Thorne, Guy (Bird, 69’); Thomas, Babos (Jakobsen, 69’), Anya (Walker, 87’); Vernam.
Substitutes not used: Barnes, Wassall, Macdonald, Karic.
Wolfsburg: Menzel; Badu (Hawslik, 82’), Otto, Franke, Abdat; Neuwirt (El-Haibi, 45’), Rexhbecaj; Justvan (Kramer, 58’), Saglam, Stefaniak; Osimhen.
Substitutes not used: Pellatz, Itter, Jaeckel.
Major Moment…
The Rams took the lead just when they were looking most vulnerable, as Wolfsburg controlled possession and created chances in the second half.
Thorne’s turn in midfield was slick and proved the perfect launch for the breakaway as he played Thomas through down the wing, and the in-form wideman provided the ideal ball, that surely would’ve been finished by Vernam had Franke not put the ball past his own keeper.
Who Impressed…
Vernam led the line well throughout, winning aerial duels and providing some neat link-up play to create a couple of chances in the first half.
His first effort was the product of a well-orchestrated passing sequence, whilst he probably should’ve given the Rams the lead on the stroke of half time, but Menzel kept out his close-range effort.
What’s Next…
The Under-23s are back at Pride Park for their next game on Monday 6th November; the East Midlands derby against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League Cup.
Wassall’s side then travel to the London Stadium on Friday 17th November to take on West Ham United after the international break in the Premier League 2 Division One.
