3/1 To Win
Derby County Under-21s' Premier League 2 - Division 2 campaign came to an end with a 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United at the Loughborough University Stadium on Monday night.
Brothers Jamie and Lewis Miley were joined on the scoresheet by Amadou Diallo, who spent time on trial with Derby in the summer, and Michael Ndiweni, with the dismissal of goalkeeper Max Thompson proving little more than an inconvenience for the Magpies.
His replacement, Will Brown, was fortunate to escape a red card himself after bringing down half-time substitute Lennon Wheeldon inside the area, but went on to keep the striker out from 12 yards.
Darren Robinson did find a route to goal but his header proved nothing more than a consolation for the young Rams.
The result concludes a challenging season for Pat Lyons' side, who end the campaign without a league victory.
The visitors enjoyed the better of the opening stages, with both Miley brothers and Rodrigo Vilca sending efforts towards goal inside the opening quarter of the game but without causing too much concern for Harry Evans.
The young Rams then began to offer some threat with two chances in as many minutes at the midpoint of the first half.
First, Owen Oseni held up possession as he awaited support from Billy Vigar, who then surged down the left before cutting inside and shooting. Thompson was equal to his effort, though.
The visiting keeper was called into action by Cian Kelly-Caprani moments later, when he fastened onto Harry Hawkins' pass before striking from the edge of the box and seeing his shot well saved.
Down the other end, Jamie Miley dealt another warning when he ghosted in between Daniel Cox and Will Grewal-Pollard to meet a deep cross, but his header was off target.
However, he would make no mistake when picked out by his younger brother inside the area on the half-hour, firing low beyond Evans to open the scoring.
The visitors were presented with a golden opportunity to double their lead just before the break, when Harrison Ashby went down under challenge from Vigar inside the box. Referee Greg Rollason pointed to the spot and Diallo duly converted from 12 yards to send Newcastle into the break two to the good.
Wheeldon and Kwaku Oduroh were introduced at half-time and striker Wheeldon was thrown straight into the action, racing in behind before being fouled by goalkeeper Thompson just outside the area. He received his marching orders.
Replacement goalkeeper Brown was caught in possession by Wheeldon shortly afterwards and brought him down inside the box, receiving a yellow card for his troubles. The Newcastle man won the battle of the substitutes from 12 yards, though, getting down to his right to save a weak penalty from the young striker.
Undeterred by their man disadvantage and buoyed by the saved penalty, Newcastle extended their lead when Diallo burst down the right before crossing to the back post, where Lewis Miley emphatically volleyed home.
Ndiweni finished well from a tight angle to add a fourth for the ten-man Magpies just after the hour mark, but skipper Robinson met a deep cross from Jack Bates with a towering header to pull one back for Derby inside the final 20 minutes.
Substitute Adebayo Fapetu tested Brown from range as the young Rams battled away in the hope of an unlikely comeback, but it was not to be.
Derby County Under-21s: Evans (GK), Brailsford, Robinson (C), Cox, Grewal-Pollard (Fapetu 59'), Bates, Kelly-Caprani, Hawkins, Taylor-Hart (Oduroh 46'), Oseni (Wheeldon 46'), Vigar.
Substitutes Not Used: Shattell (GK), Davidson.
Newcastle United Under-21s: Thompson (GK), Ashby, Savage (Wiggett 82'), Murphy, Bondswell, J Miley (Hackett 74'), Carlyon, L Miley, Diallo, Ndiweni (Huntley 74'), Vilca (Brown 47).
Substitutes Not Used: Westendorf.
