3/1 To Win
Derby County’s Under-23s will
return to Premier League Cup action on Sunday afternoon when they host West Bromwich Albion in the Quarter Final stage of the competition.
The Under-23s will face the Baggies at Pride Park Stadium (2pm kick-off) and dcfc.co.uk has brought together all the key information you will need to know ahead of the game.
Premier League Cup Format...
Mirroring the format of the UEFA Champions League, the Premier League Cup consists of eight four-team groups, with each club playing their opposing teams both home and away.
It's the first Premier League Cup campaign since 2019/20, when the competition was curtailed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it includes Academies from Categories 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Clubs in the third and fourth categories previously competed in qualifiers to join the top-level Academies in the group stage.
Following
the group stages, clubs will compete in knockout rounds on a one-off
basis, starting with the Round of 16, then the Quarter Finals,
Semi-Finals and the Final.
Team News...
Goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes picked up a hip problem in the early stages of the 0-0 draw against Leicester City at Moor Farm Training Ground last month and is set to miss out once more and Under-18s goalkeeper Harry Evans is set for just his third Under-23s outing.
Defender Max Bardell (hamstring) is sidelined for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery.
Midfielder Osazee Aghatise missed the Premier League 2 - Division 1 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday due to illness but could return to the fold against the Baggies.
Pre-Match Views - Coaching Staff...
Senior Professional Development Phase Coach Pat Lyons spoke to RamsTV to preview the clash with the Baggies - with the full video available below.
Pre-Match Views - Playing Squad...
Under-23s midfielder Osazee Aghatise sat down with RamsTV to preview Sunday's Premier League Cup encounter at Pride Park Stadium - with the full video available below.
The Premier League Cup So Far...
Derby's Under-23s reached the knockout stages of the competition after finishing top of Group C with five wins and a draw to their name from six outings in a group containing Charlton Athletic, Norwich City and Reading.
Derby
started the group campaign with a 3-3 draw at Norwich in the early
stages of the season, before racking up five successive wins - ending in
a 3-1 victory at Reading in February.
Derby's Under-23s reached the last eight with a dramatic 4-3 home win over Sheffield United in the Round of 16 in early March.
After a 2-2 draw over 90 minutes, the Rams came back from 3-2 down in extra-time to win the tie with two dramatic late goals at Loughborough University Stadium to reach the last eight of the competition.
United captain Ollie Arblaster opened the scoring after 40 minutes with an effort from distance, but Derby hit back quickly to equalise in added time at the end of the first half through attacking midfielder Louie Sibley’s excellent strike.
The Rams turned the game on its head just after the break as striker Bartosz Cybulski found the net with a predatory finish after the ball fell his way inside the box.
The Poland youth international frontman’s strike looked to be a decisive one, with goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes making a dramatic penalty save late on to deny William Osula.
However, there was a late twist in the tale as Osula equalised in the final minute to take the game to extra time.
The Blades’ forward put his side in control in the first period of extra time with a deflected effort, but Derby hit back to equalise once more early in the second period through defender Kornell McDonald.
Then, with time running out, substitute Josh Shonibare headed home the winner to see the Rams over the line on a dramatic evening.
Live Stream...
RamsTV is unable to stream the game live owing to a Premier League matches taking place on Sunday.
Full match highlights from the Premier League Cup clash will appear online on dcfc.co.uk following the game.
Ticket Information...
Admission is FREE for all supporters and entry will be via the East Stand turnstiles.
Pride Park Stadium will be open from 1pm, and no tickets will be required in advance to gain entry.
