Derby County U21s 0-1 Aston Villa
Before you read my thoughts on the match I would ask you to please spare a thought and a prayer for Derby County Academy first year scholar Giann Magno and his family. The Rams players wore black armbands as a mark of respect for Giann’s father and a minute’s silence was impeccably observed before kick-off.
It should serve as a reminder to all of us that there are far more important things in life than football.
Derby County U21s lost 0-1 to a strong Aston Villa U21 side that included Mark Bunn, Joe Bennett, Nathan Baker, Jack Grealish, Carles Gill and Adama Traore – a new signing from Barcelona – in their starting line-up.
Grealish scored the only goal of the game after 30 minutes, hitting a shot into the bottom corner of the net.
The Rams more than matched the Villains throughout and can count themselves unlucky not to have taken anything from the game.
Mason Bennett’s shot hit the post in the first-half and Offrande Zanzala’s second-half header bounced off the crossbar.
Darren Wassall sent the U21s out in a 4-4-2 diamond formation with Jared Bird at the base of the diamond, converted striker Charles Vernam at the tip, and Alefe Santos (right) and Ivan Calero (left).
Calero had a very good game, enjoying lots of possession, always running at the Villa defence and causing problems. Santos had his moments but wasn’t involved enough. Vernam, better known as a striker, offered a strong presence and looked far more comfortable in midfield than when I last saw him against Belper Town. Bird had a neat and tidy game in the holding role. He showed all the attributes, tackling, passing, running with the ball but, like Santos, wasn’t involved enough.
Overall, though, Villa won the midfield battle with Gil and Grealish playing well and the pacy Traore producing an outstanding display in his first appearance in the claret-and-blue.
The Rams’ front two were Offrande Zanzala (right) and Mason Bennett (left). Both of them had a number of chances, both of them hit the woodwork, but neither was clinical enough in front of goal.
The back-four looked very solid. Tom Koblenz, normally a defensive midfielder, was excellent in the centre of defence and Ethan Wassall alongside him wasn’t far behind. Both looked comfortable on the ball, passed it well, and both looked at ease running with the ball out of defence.
Isak Ssewankambo at right-back and Max Lowe at left-back were defensively sound and both got forward well and hit dangerous crosses into the penalty area.
In goal Jonathan Mitchell dominated his area, came and collected crosses, made a number of fine saves, and had no chance with Grealish’s well-taken goal.
Traore burst away from three Rams players before crossing into the box, but Gil sliced his shot wide.
An excellent Calero free-kick was saved by Bunn diving low to his right.
Mason Bennett rounded the goalkeeper but his shot from a narrow angle struck the foot of the post.
Moments later Mason Bennett had a shot blocked on the line.
At the other end, Mitchell comfortably saved a Joe Bennett shot.
Calero cut inside from the left, beat a defender, only for his shot to be deflected out for a corner.
On the half-hour mark Villa took the lead. Traore’s shot was blocked, but Grealish’s low follow-up effort nestled in the bottom corner of the net.
Mason Bennett went on a powerful run, Vernam played the ball into the box, and Calero’s shot was blocked.
Vernam set-off on a determined run through the middle but shot wide.
Calero embarked on a mazy run through the middle. Spoilt for options with Zanzala, Vernam, and Mason Bennett ahead of him, the Spaniard played in Mason Bennett who hit a poor shot wide of the goal.
After the break a Traore shot deflected wide.
Koblenz went on a determined run out of defence, slid the ball through for Mason Bennett, and Bunn did brilliantly to turn his shot round the post for a corner.
Lowe hit a superb cross into the box and Zanzala headed it wide.
A brilliant diving save by Mitchell denied Grealish.
An excellent Rams move saw Santos go on a great run down the right, Mason Bennett fed Vernam, Bunn saved Vernam’s shot superbly with a foot, looping the ball up into the air, Calero won the header and Mason Bennett blasted his shot well wide.
A lovely Villa move saw left-back Joe Bennett arrive late in the penalty area and Mitchell brilliantly saved his shot.
From a short Calero corner, Bird hit a perfect cross into the penalty area and Zanzala’s header bounced off the crossbar.
Mason Bennett was clattered in a challenge, received treatment, and limped off in the 67th minute to be replaced by Bunjaku. Vernam moved up front and Bunjaku went to the tip of the diamond.
Ssewankambo played the ball into substitute Bunjaku and Bunn pushed his shot out for a corner.
Calero took a short corner, received the ball back from Santos, and Calero’s shot was blocked out for yet another corner.
Zanzala headed a Calero corner wide.
After a surging run through the middle, Calero set-up Bunjaku who hit a fierce shot wide.
On 72 minutes second year scholar Kellan Gordon replaced Santos and impressed in his cameo role.
A Traore free-kick was headed into the danger area by Baker and Jordan Lyden’s shot was blocked out for a corner.
An excellent Rams move involving Lowe, Bunjaku, Ssewankambo and Gordon saw Zanzala cushion a header and Bunjaku hit the side netting.
Calero looked set to break away on the halfway line and was hauled down. Getting to his feet, Calero put Zanzala away with a quickly taken free-kick. Zanzala burst forward but, when he closed in on the penalty area, the ball got stuck in his feet, Villa’s defenders recovered, and Zanzala’s shot was blocked away.
Ssewankambo put Gordon away down the right, the cross came in and Zanzala’s header was deflected out for a corner.
Derby County U21 (4-3-3): Jonathan Mitchell [8]; Isak Ssewankambo [7], Ethan Wassall [7], Tom Koblenz [8], Max Lowe [7]; Jared Bird [6], Alefe Santos [6] (Kellan Gordon, 72 [7]), *Ivan Calero [8]*, Charles Vernam [7]; Mason Bennett [6] (Alban Bunjaku, 67 [7]), Offrande Zanzala [6]. Subs not used: Josh Barnes, Jack Tuite, Alex Cover.
Stuart Hughes
Twitter: @StuartHughes65