Breaking: City produce dramatic comeback to beat Derby

City’s Elite Development Squad fought from two-goals down to beat Derby 3-2 in our first Premier League 2 away assignment of 2024/25.

Having held Chesterfield to a 1-1 draw in the EFL Trophy in our previous outing, Ben Wilkinson’s side were perhaps buoyed entering the fixture despite the penalty shootout defeat to Paul Cook’s team for an extra point.

But first-half goals from Emmanuel Ilesanmi and Lennon Wheeldon gave the hosts a commanding lead before Jacob Wright‘s expertly taken penalty halved the deficit ahead of the interval.

Despite growing slightly frustrated with Derby’s heroic defending, we grabbed a deserved equaliser with little more than 10 minutes to go through Nico O’Reilly.

Then, as full-time approached, Matty Warhurst dramatically won the game for our youngsters when slotting home in the closing stages.

WHAT HAPPENED

With our Elite Development Squad’s trip to Derby representing our third match in six days, Wilkinson made three changes from the team who played in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Chesterfield in the EFL Trophy.

Spike Brits started in net and Charlie Gray and Justin Oboavwoduo came in at the Proctor Cars Stadium as we looked to collect our first league points of the campaign.

Following a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa in their opening assignment, the hosts were also looking to get off the mark in the Premier League 2.

And the Rams were rewarded for a fast start when summer signing from Harrogate Town, Emmanuel Ilesanmi, ghosted into the box and turned a stinging low cross into the net from all of six-yards.

Following a spell of characteristic, aesthetically pleasing passing and possession from City, we began to turn the screw.

But Brits had to be at his best on his PL2 debut to deny Ilesanmi when our keeper was quick off his line to bravely smother the attacker’s poked effort from close range following a slick Derby counter attack.

Having impressed on our senior team’s pre-season tour of the United States and started in City’s Community Shield triumph, Nico O’Reilly started to influence proceedings and produced a tireless run down the left before his teasing cross was headed away from the arriving Oboavwoduo.

City were very much in the ascendency and were presented an opportunity when Jack Thompson’s momentum saw him leave his area when claiming a cross. Jacob Wright stepped up and curled the free-kick just over the bar.

But against the run of play and close to half-time, our youngsters suffered a sucker-punch when Ilesanmi retrieved possession and slid the ball into Lennon Wheeldon’s path who coolly lifted into the roof of the net to double Derby’s lead.

We had a mountain to climb, but our EDS reduced the deficit on the cusp of the interval when Wright dispatched a penalty after Emilio Lawrence was brought down following a skilful run into the box.

It was the versatile midfielder’s third goal in as many U21 matches this term and we carried our momentum into the second half when Lawrence drove into the area and forced Thompson to tip his venomous effort from a tight angle round the post.

And the winger should have equalised soon after when a deep cross found him unmarked at the back post where he opted to volley first-time, sending the ball bouncing over the bar from close range.

In a bid to find an equaliser, Wilkinson introduced Matty Warhurst from the bench after his 25 goal haul for our Under-18s last term and the ever-dangerous Lawrence almost teed up the frontman with another weaving run down the left before his cross was thwarted by Derby’s rearguard action.

City were undoubtedly in control of the second half as the hosts looked to protect their slender lead and we found the equaliser we craved when a neat passing move allowed Oboavwoduo to tee up O’Reilly who collected the ball and drilled low into the bottom corner with little more than 10 minutes remaining.

Both sides pushed for a winner as full-time approached and Wilkinson’s young charges euphorically sealed the points when the ball was played into Warhurst’s path before our striker kept his composure to slide the ball under Thompson.

There was to be further twists, however, when Lakyle Samuel was sent off after receiving a second booking for tugging Ilesanmi’s shirt before a member of City’s coaching staff was shown red for obstruction on the sidelines – but we held on for our first PL2 victory of the season despite the numerical disadvantage.

HOW WE LINED UP

Derby XI: Thompson, Perry, Gill, Turley (Bardell 65’), Radcliffe, K. Robinson, Stepien-Iwumene, Hawkins (C), Ilesanmi, Wheeldon (Allen 70’), Moloney (Spencer 90’+2’).

Unused substitutes: Shattell, Cox.

City XI: Brits, Wright, Samuel, Simpson-Pusey, Henderson-Hall (Braithwate 90’+1’), Gray , Alfa-Ruprecht (Naylor 46’), Oboavwoduo, Heskey (Warhurst 66’), O’Reilly (C), Lawrence (Okeke 75’).

Unused substitutes: Wints.