Trio on target as Rams march on in Youth Cup
UNDER-18S WILL FACE CITY OR FOREST NEXT
DERBY County Under-18s reached the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup with an impressive and thoroughly-deserved 3-0 victory over Sheffield United U18s at Pride Park Stadium last night.
The young Rams were better from front to back and from first minute to last as Jason Knight, Louie Sibley and Tyree Wilson scored.
Justin Walker’s side, a division above the Blades in Premier League North, were resolute at the back and a joy to watch at times going forward.
It was easy to see how Derby had only lost two League games to date this season and they followed up victory over Blackpool in the previous round to set up a mouth-watering tie against either Manchester City or Nottingham Forest next. Those two play on Friday.
Justin Walker included Max Bird in the starting 11, effectively ruling him out of first-team action in the FA Cup replay against Southampton tonight, while Morgan Whittaker, Knight and Sibley, who were all missing from the under-23s’ victory at Blackburn Rovers on Monday, also started.
Derby dominated the early stages, winning the aerial duels.
The deadlock was broken after only 11 minutes thanks to Knight.
Fine build-up play between Lee Buchanan – who had started superbly at the heart of the defence – Knight and Sibley saw the latter’s goalbound effort cleared for a corner.
Sibley floated it in from the left and Knight met it with a powerful header that flew past keeper Marcus Dewhurst.
The goal was no more than Derby deserved and they pressed for a second when Knight’s 25-yard drive was held by Dewhurst before Whittaker chipped a shot into the sidenetting.
Derby had a good opportunity to extend their lead after 26 minutes. A training-ground corner routine resulted in Sibley’s short delivery from the left being switched across to Knight on the right. He played in Connor Dixon down the channel and his floated cross found Eiran Cashin, who could only flick his header wide.
There was another golden chance just after the half-hour mark.
Whittaker somehow got through a number of Blades challenges in the penalty area but Dewhurst kept out his low strike with a foot. Sibley’s resulting corner swung all the way through the six-yard box.
A second goal did arrive two minutes before the break – and what a way to double the lead.
Cashin started the move by arrowing a ball to Wilson on the left. He tapped a lovely flick past right-back Tom Williams and left him for dust.
Wilson then crossed to Sibley in the box, he took a touch and slammed a half-volley into the top corner.
Half-time did little to halt the Rams dominance and it was 3-0 four minutes after the restart.
Wilson showed his turn of pace down the left before bursting into the box and drawing a clumsy foul from Williams. The Derby man picked himself up and confidently put the penalty into the top right corner.
Walker’s men were a joy to watch– no more so than Wilson, who continued to cause havoc in the Blades defence. His cut-back found Sibley, whose shot was blocked, before Dixon picked up his dangerous cross but lashed wide of the far post.
Sheffield United had beaten Middlesbrough away 1-0 to reach the fourth round of the competition but there was no real threat of another away win here. Buchanan dominated from the heart of the Rams rearguard, ably assisted by Cashin.
There was another good opening with 14 minutes remaining. A Blades corner was cleared to Wilson, who sprang a rapid counter-attack and slipped a ball through to Sibley, who broke the offside trap.
Sibley raced in on goal but Dewhurst made himself big and denied the effort. The Blades were well beaten and Dewhurst came to the rescue again to save Jack Stretton’s shot in the box.
“Get the ball and play a bit” came the call from the Blades bench but they simply hadn’t been allowed to.
DERBY COUNTY U18: French, Minkley, Wilson, Bird, Cashin, Buchanan, McDonald (Ebosele 76), Dixon, Whittaker, Knight, Sibley. Other subs: Halwax, Thompson, Brown, Stretton.
SHEFFIELD UNITED U18: Dewhurst, Williams, Boyes, Neal, Gordon, Belehouane, J Kelly (Gomis 46), Broadbent, Ompreon (Ackroyd 62), Brunt, Gaxhia (Potts 62). Other subs: S Kelly, Viggars.