Derby County’s Under-21s tasted a 2-1 defeat on the road at Norwich City in Premier League 2 - Division 2 on Friday night.
Pat Lyons’ side went down to a goal in either half against the Canaries at their Carrow Road home under the floodlights.
The Rams’ line-up once again featured recent signings Leigh Kavanagh, Joe Haigh and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, while attacking midfielder Osazee Aghatise made his return to the squad after almost two months out injured and got an hour under his belt.
Abu Kamara found the net midway through the first half for the hosts in what was a relatively even opening 45 minutes.
Derby continued to push for a way back into the game right up until the closing minutes when Lewis Shipley added a second for the home side on 88 minutes.
The Rams did pull a goal back deep into added time through substitute Courtney Clarke, but the hosts held on to pick up all three points.
The defeat means Lyons’ Under-21s are still looking for their first points of the 2022/23 campaign after six league outings so far.
Derby’s Under-21s are back in Premier League 2 - Division 2 action when they host East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest at Pride Park Stadium on Monday 10th October (7pm kick-off) at Pride Park Stadium.
Derby County Under-21s: Evans (GK), Oduroh, Kelly-Caprani, Hawkins, Kavanagh, Solomon, Lo-Everton, Haigh, Cybulski (C), Aghatise (Clarke 63), Ibrahim (Grewal-Pollard 78).
Substitutes Not Used: Roberts (GK), Brailsford, Bates.