"The Best We've Played All Season"

Derby County Under-18s manager Justin Walker praised the emphatic start that his side made during their 3-2 win over Middlesbrough.

Midfielder Jason Knight got a late winner for the hosts at the Training Centre in partnership with the University of Derby, despite going ahead by two goals early on thanks to a quick-fire brace from Jack Stretton.

The Boro levelled the match via goals from Gabby McGill and Layton Watts either side of half time.

It meant that Derby moved up to fifth in the Premier League – North table, climbing above Middlesbrough and their next opponents Newcastle United.

Manager Walker was delighted with the start that his side made to the match and labelled it as the best phase of play that he had seen from his side all season.

He told dcfc.co.uk: “I thought that in the first 25 minutes, that is the best we have played all season.

“I thought we moved the ball very quickly, positively and our attacking play created them a lot of problems.”

Derby maintained possession and created a lot of attacking chances throughout the match and their victory could have been by a more comfortable margin.

Stretton and Lee Buchanan both came close to getting the winner and forced good saves out of visiting goalkeeper, Solomon Brynn, before Knight eventually got the game-deciding goal.

Walker continued to praise how his side kept the ball during the match and believes that his team have already shown development from the start of the season.

“We’ve been very good in terms of our in-possession stuff,” added Walker.

“We continue to work on different things as a team, but I think individually the most important thing is that we are seeing progress and I genuinely believe that we are.

“I think the most important thing is, are our players progressing and are they getting opportunities within the 23s, to train with the first team maybe and are they showing improvements week on week, and I think they are.”

Despite leading the match for the vast majority of the game, Derby were forced to work hard to secure victory.

The hosts spent large parts of the game attempting to break down the opposition defence, before eventually getting the crucial third goal.

Walker also praised opponents Middlesbrough after the match, as well as the character that his side showed to win the tie.

“Middlesbrough showed us respect by dropping off and defending in their own half and it was a good challenge for us today to try and break that down,” said Walker.

“I think the players are self-driven, I think they showed a hell of a lot of character today. There is character in this team and we have proven that out on the road in different games; we have come from behind in a few games.

“But today was different, we went ahead and then, we have drawn level and then we’ve dug in again and got the winner, deservedly so I think.”

Derby next travel to Darsley Park to take on Newcastle on Saturday 22^nd September.