3/1 To Win
A late fightback in the last eleven minutes saw Middlesbrough earn a 2-1 victory over Derby County’s Under-23s at Heritage Park in the Premier League Cup.
Lewis Walker opened the scoring for the Rams in the first half, but late strikes from Hayden Coulson and Luke Armstrong prevented the visitors from securing a third consecutive victory.
Derby had already qualified for the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup prior to kick-off which gave Academy Director Darren Wassall the opportunity to give some younger players a chance in the side. Captain Alex Babos and Luke Thomas were amongst the regular members of this squad who were rested for the tie.
Amongst the changes to the side was defender Max Hunt, who was making his first start for the Under-23s since arriving at the club from Matlock Town last month.
Walker opened the scoring inside the first 15 minutes with his seventh goal in his last six games.
It came after a superb passing move as Jayden Mitchell-Lawson’s ball sent full-back Alex Cover down the right side, and Cover picked out Walker in the penalty area before the forward coolly slotted his effort past home goalkeeper Zach Hemming.
Morgan Whittaker, one of four regular members of the Under-18s side this season nearly doubled the lead seven minutes later, but his curling effort was easily caught by Hemming.
The Boro’s best chance of the first half came when Mikael Soisalo fired in a low and driven cross from the right just before the interval; Derby’s clever defending prevented the cross from becoming anything serious for their goalkeeper Josh Barnes to have to deal with.
Whittaker again looked lively shortly after the restart, however he was unable to steer his close-range effort on target.
Two minutes later, Soisalo had a fantastic chance to level the match, but failed to steer his header at the back post from a Coulson cross on target.
In a must-win game for the hosts, they continued to pile on the pressure in the second half and Derby ‘keeper Barnes was forced to make a great save to tip Armstrong’s header over the bar, after he met Robbie Tinkler’s long throw-in.
Middlesbrough did find an equaliser with just over 10 minutes remaining. Liam Hegarty’s cross picked out Coulson at the back post, whose header trickled into the net.
The hosts took the lead four minutes later when Armstrong eventually fired his shot past Barnes after Boro had several chances in a crowded Derby penalty area blocked.
Middlesbrough: Hemming; Hegarty, Mahmutovic, Brewitt, Reading (Walker,79'); Malley, Tinkler; Soisalo (Curry, 64’), Armstrong, Coulson; O’Neill.
Substitutes not used: Elsdon, Wilson, James.
Derby County: Barnes; Cover, Wassall (Buchanan, 72’), Hunt, Taylor; Bird, Bateman; Mitchell-Lawson (Jibodu, 72’), Whittaker, Cresswell; Walker (Knight, 64’).
Substitutes not used: Karic, Ravas.
Major Moment…
Four minutes after Middlesbrough levelled the match, Armstrong fired the hosts into the lead.
In a frantic scramble, the Boro saw several of their chances blocked before Armstrong finally found the back of the net and revitalised the host’s chances of progressing in this competition.
Who Impressed…
Cover, who in recent weeks has featured primarily in the middle of defence, played for the duration of the match at right-back.
As well as being heavily involved in Derby’s goal, Cover made several key challenges and regularly provided an attacking outlet from the right side.
What’s Next…
Wassall’s side now turn their attentions back onto their Premier League 2 - Division 1 campaign.
Next up for them is a trip to London to face Tottenham Hotspur on Friday 2nd March before a home clash against Manchester City at Pride Park Stadium on Friday 9th March.
