"There Is A Real Hunger Around This Team"

Derby County Under-18s manager Justin Walker praised the performances from a number of individuals and his team collectively after their spectacular 8-0 win over Newcastle United.

The Rams earned back-to-back wins for the first time this season after cruising past The Magpies at Darsley Park on Saturday afternoon.

Striker Jack Stretton got four more goals to add to his brace from last week’s win over Middlesbrough; defender Eiran Cashin also scored twice, with Connor Dixon and Yoann Greco completing the rout.

Walker’s side’s result saw them maintain their unbeaten streak away from home this season, having previously drawn with Manchester City and Manchester United in their opening two away ties.

It was also the team’s first clean sheet of the season, something that particularly pleased manager, Walker.

He told dcfc.co.uk: “It was a very good performance, a very strong performance. I thought we dominated the game and we are really pleased with our efforts today.

“I’m proud of the work ethic; I’ve just told the players that there is a real hunger around the team at the moment and everyone is contributing, and they deserve their rewards today.

“We went out and did the basics really, really well again. I don’t think they have had a shot, which I think the lads prided themselves on. We said at half time that it was about protecting zero.

“It was a first away win for us and a first clean sheet in the league, a good day in the office, but back to work on Monday and hopefully, they can just keep that performance level on a consistent basis.”

Stretton’s quartet of goals, which included two one-on-ones, a header and a sublime solo effort, takes him up to nine for the season, making him the joint-highest scorer in the whole of the Premier League – North.

Walker has been delighted by Stretton’s start to the campaign and is happy to see him enjoy a purple patch of him.

“He’s done brilliantly”, explained Walker.

“He’s a great personality to have around the group, a good lad and he deserves his goals; he is lethal from a yard at the moment.

“But his third goal epitomises him, it was a great finish, he is a natural goal scorer and he deserves his four goals today.”

Derby’s manager also wanted to mention a couple of his other players who impressed him during the victory, namely, defender Lee Buchanan and Morgan Whittaker, who created four of the Rams’ goals.

Walker added: “I must mention that I think Morgan Whittaker was fantastic today, I thought he was pivotal in most of what we tried to do.

“He’s been very selfless in terms of the last goal and given it to Yoann Greco, who hasn’t played much football over the past 12 months, which I think is a great gesture from Morgan, but I think his performance was fantastic.

“I could go through the whole team, but I thought Lee [Buchanan], Stretts and Morgan were our top performers in a very strong team performance.”

The win moves Derby up to fourth in the Premier League – North table, having picked up 11 out of a possible 18 points so far this season.