Derby County’s Under-21s were defeated 6-2 by a strong Chelsea Under-21 side at Matlock Town’s Proctor Cars Stadium on Friday evening.
Goals from Johnson Osong and Conor Washington weren’t enough as they fell to defeat in Premier League 2 against the side they defeated 4-3 in the Premier League Cup earlier in the month.
Striker Washington was one of four players from the first team to feature with Jake Rooney and Tawanda Chirewa getting run-outs after early-season injuries, while Joe Ward was also handed the opportunity to gain match sharpness.
Osong gave the Rams the lead four minutes into the game. The ball fell loose in the penalty area and the winger was on hand to take full advantage and find the back of the net.
Kaiden Wilson equalised for Chelsea on the half-hour mark and then a quickfire Deivid Washington double meant the visitors went into the break with a 3-1 lead.
Derby came out the blocks fast after half-time as they looked for a way back into the contest and Osong fired a ball across the face of goal, but nobody was on hand to finish.
Derby got a deserved goal back through Washington as he bundled the ball home from close range after 54 minutes.
Wales youth international midfielder Cruz Allen then came inches away from an equaliser, but his free kick sailed just wide of the post.
Jake Buxton’s side were pegged back once again, though, as Kiano Dyer fired home from the edge of the box to make it 4-2 to the visitors on 67 minutes.
Chelsea made it five through Donnell McNeilly with just over ten minutes to play and Jimmy Morgan added a sixth two minutes from time.
Focus now turns to Wealdstone for Jake Buxton’s side as they prepare to visit the fifth-tier side on Tuesday 3rd December in their National League Cup group fixture (7pm kick-off), while the Under-21s’ final Premier League 2 outing of 2024 will see them travel to Fulham on Friday 13th December (7pm kick-off).
Team News
Derby County Under-21s: Evans (GK), Ward (Perry 76), Turley, D. Robinson, Rooney (C), K. Robinson, Davidson (Ilesanmi 46), Chirewa (Hawkins 46), Washington (McAndrew 65), Allen, Osong.
Substitutes Not Used: Thompson (GK).
Post-Match Reaction
Speaking after the final whistle, Lead Under-21 Coach Jake Buxton said: “It was a disappointing result and disappointing performance.
“We started the game well and got our noses in-front with a good goal, but did not kick on from that.
“All the goals we conceded tonight were poor. We gifted them to Chelsea and we lacked aggression in our defending tonight. We have not had too many off nights this season, but we were all not at the races in this one. We will dust ourselves down and move on to Wealdstone in the National League Cup next week.”
Words: Will Stanier.