Derby County Under-21s slid to a 4-1 defeat against Brentford B at the Proctor Cars Stadium in the Premier League Cup on Friday night.
The Rams Under-21s were looking to return to winning ways after falling toa 2-0 defeat against Wealdstone in the National League Cup on Tuesday night. The last outing in the Premier League Cup for Jake Buxton’s side saw them emerge the victorious side in a high-scoring game against Chelsea last month.
The away sides’ quality told as two goals in the first half and a penalty in the second period completed a hattrick for Brentford captain Ethan Brierley.
Derby substitute Owen Eames narrowed the margin with a goal in the 85th minute but a ruthless young Bees side provided an immediate response, with Isaac Holland netting on the break to put the game to bed.
Brentford started fastest out of the gate with Brierley’s strike from the edge of the box in the fourth minute, after a well-worked short corner, left Derby goalkeeper Harley Price with no chance to save.
The young Rams looked to mount their first chance in the 13th minute when Cruz Allen went on a mazing run down the left flank and won a corner at the byline, but the resulting corner was well cleared by a disciplined Bees defence.
Three minutes later, Emmanuel Ilesanmi pirouetted through a crowd of players and looked to have created an opening, but he was felled to win a free kick from 25 yards out.
Buxton’s side put together a promising spell of possession in the 21st minute with Niall McAndrew, Jack Perry and Ilesanmi making moves to stretch Brentford’s defence. The move found Marcel Tola on the edge of the area, but his shot from distance flew over the bar.
The scores were somehow kept at 1-0 in the 41st minute when an erratic goal-line scramble saw the visitors have multiple chances denied by some tenacious defending from the young Rams, who threw their bodies in front of numerous sure-fire shots on goal.
But Brentford’s second goal did come two minutes later as left-back Tony Yogane delivered a pinpoint cross to the far post that Brierley met on the volley.
It could have been three going into the break but for some alert goaltending from Price who got down well to save as Yogane forced an acrobatic stop at the near post.
Derby midfielder Allen came close with the first attack of the second half. His left-footed strike from distance looked to have beaten the goalkeeper but sailed just past the post.
A penalty for the gave the Bees aa three goal advantage in the 75th minute. Yogane was judged to have been impeded unfairly as he burst into the box towards Tristan Gill in the Rams’ defence. The spot kick was slotted home by Brierley - his low strike just evaded the grasp of Price to secure the hattrick.
Derby substitute Eames pulled one back for the Rams in the 85th minute, as he pounced in the box to beat goalkeeper Reggie Rose.
But the momentum didn’t last long for the Rams as Holland provided an immediate response when he emerged at the back post to steer home the visitors’ fourth goal.
Team News
Derby County Under-21s: Price (GK), Gordon (D. Robinson 53), Gill, Tola, Osayande, K. Robinson (C), Perry, Allen (Eames 65), Ilesanmi (Oguntolu 53), McAndrew (Spencer 53), Osong.
On The Bench: Thompson (GK).