Derby County Under-23s put on a dazzling display in the Premier League Cup to take down Leeds United in a 7-1 victory at Loughborough University Stadium.
The Rams were relentless from the opening minute in their second game of the group stage of the competition and both individuals and the team delivered a standout performance.
Louie Sibley was the star man, getting his first hat trick for the Under-23s. He bagged the first two goals for Derby inside the opening 20 minutes and completed his hat trick from the penalty spot in the second half when Jahmal Hector-Ingram stepped aside from his usual role to give the youngster the opportunity.
Hector-Ingram still managed to get a brace with two coolly taken shots, one from each foot, and both assisted by Jayden Mitchell-Lawson. While Mason Bennett and Max Bird also got in on the action.
The Rams set the tone early for the rest of the first-half, winning a free-kick just outside the box in the opening seconds after kick-off. Kieran Dowell stood over the ball from 20 yards out and bent his effort to whistle to wide of the far post.
Soon after, Sibley inserted his dominance in the game and began to wreak havoc for Leeds’ defence. He sent a brilliant ball through to Hector-Ingram in the box in the sixth minute and the striker looked to take aim, but Kamil Miazek closed him down.
Sibley was back in action in the 11th minute for the Rams to take the lead. His initial cross from the left was parried away by Miazek and half-cleared out to edge of the box. Dowell played the ball back in to Jayden-Mitchell Lawson who found Sibley to slam in his first of the night.
It took just five minutes for Sibley and the Rams to double their tally early on in the game. The midfielder pressed Leeds and intercepted as they looked to play out to drive into the area before unleashing a left footed shot into the far corner.
Bennett made it 3-0 with a superb goal in the 22nd minute. Bird found the winger to the right of the box he struck with the side of his right foot perfectly to see his effort fly across goal and in the back of the net.
The Premier League 2’s reigning Player of the Month, Hector-Ingram extended the lead to four inside the opening half an hour.
The Rams hit Leeds on the break and Mitchell-Lawson made a good run before feeding the striker through on goal. He made no mistake when Miazek came out to meet him when he smashed his low shot passed the keeper.
Following the break, Derby continued to be relentless and refused to sit back and again their pressure in the opposition half paid off.
Bird swooped in to intercept a pass from a Leeds defender and took his chance brilliantly when he drove forward and sent a shot from 20 yards out through the visiting keeper.
Sibley’s third of the evening came from the spot after he won a penalty when he drove down the right flank and into the area where he was brought down. Usual penalty taker Hector-Ingram gave the 17-year-old the nod to attempt to get his hat trick and he did just that when he powered in to the right corner.
The scoring wasn’t over for Hector-Ingram either though and with ten minutes to go he got his second and the Rams’ seventh of the evening. He was again assisted by Mitchell-Lawson who found the striker behind him with space to drill his left-footed effort into to bottom corner.
The visitors found a consolation in added time when substitute Galloway put one past Josh Barnes.
Derby County: Hamer; Bateman, Wassall, Forsyth, Brown; Bird (C), Dowell, Sibley; Mitchell-Lawson, Hector-Ingram, Bennett
Subs: Barnes, Minkley, Shonibare, Babos, Cresswell
Leeds United: Miazek; Burlace, Struijk, Casey, Davies; Jenkins, Gotts (C), McKinstry; Stevens, Edmondson, McCarron
Subs: Huggins, Skerry, Hudson, Galloway, Cresswell
