Derby 1 (Weston 64) Wolves 2 (Holman 25, Roberts 38)
Wolves under-21s claimed all three Premier League 2 points on the road as two first half goals were enough for victory at Derby County.
The Old Gold took the lead on the 25-minute mark when Fletcher Holman took advantage of a loose back pass and closed in on goal, before opening up his body and directing a shot clinically into the far right corner.
A clinical Fletcher Holman finish 🎯#PL2 pic.twitter.com/Pwt0qB7QA8
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) March 11, 2024
Fil Mabete had a chance to double the lead shortly after, but he headed into the gloves of Jack Thompson following Aaron Keto-Diyawa’s free-kick.
Tony Weston then hit the side netting for the Rams before the visitors doubled their advantage seven minutes before the interval. Tyler Roberts received the ball on the right-hand side and tricked his way to the byline, before his dinked cross crept in at the far post with the help of Thompson’s glove.
Tyler Roberts makes it two ✌️#PL2 pic.twitter.com/deVD9p3fOV
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) March 11, 2024
Derby could have reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time, however Keilen Robinson poked over from close range.
Half-time | Derby 0-2 Wolves
Wolves superbly broke away early into the second period as Marvin Kaleta made tracks down the right and with the help of Josh Esen, the ball found Tom Edozie who flicked it around the corner to Holman who got a good strike on the ball, but was denied by the goalkeeper who stood firm.
Jimmy Storer then had to be at his very best, making two double saves in the space of a couple of minutes to keep the two-goal lead intact.
However, he was unable to prevent Weston from pulling one back on 64 minutes, as his cross cruelly deflected high into the air and over Storer who could only watch the ball bounce into the roof of the net.
Storer did well to tip Robinson’s header over the bar before the Rams twice had the ball in the back of the net through Weston and Robinson but, fortunately for Wolves, the offside flag was raised on both occasions.
James Collins’ side were made to stand firm in the final exchanges and three under-16s in Wes Okoduwa, Alvin Ayman and Luke Rawlings were all given PL2 debuts to help see out the lead.
After Robinson had rattled the crossbar with a header, Wolves had to navigate through six minutes of additional time and they did so, holding on to all three points and moving up to sixth in the table in the process.
Full-time | Derby 1-2 Wolves
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s travel to Everton in Premier League 2 on Friday afternoon.
NEXT UP
- 15/03 Everton (A)
- 08/04 Sunderland (H)
- 15/04 Tottenham (A)
- 29/04 Brighton (H)
TEAMS
Derby | Thompson, Perry, Gill, K. Robinson, Bartley, D. Robinson (McAndrew 59), Allen (Hawkins 90+2), Trialist, Weston, Fapetu, Moloney (Nto 72).
Subs not used | Cox, Shattell.
Wolves | Storer, Kaleta (Okoduwa 74), Keto-Diyawa, Rees, Ojinnaka, Mabete, Esen, Whittingham, Holman (Ayman 81), Roberts (Tipton 46), Edozie (Rawlings 87).
Subs not used | Benjamin.
