U21s: Aston Villa 3-1 Derby County

Aston Villa’s scintillating start helped them beat Derby County and pick up a first Premier League 2 win of the season on Friday night.

Ben Broggio netted a simple header and Kobei Moore turned home a cross as the home side raced into a two-goal lead within seven minutes.

Rico Richards added a third after 20 minutes before Dajaune Brown pulled one back later in the first half.

The Young Lions were reduced to ten when Finley Munroe was shown a second yellow card just before the hour mark, but the hosts navigated the remainder of the game with no major scares.

Villa shared eight goals with Manchester City in their last outing, and they found the net swiftly against the Rams.

Teddy Rowe’s lofted free-kick caused problems for Brown at the back post, and the Derby striker could only knee the ball across goal, leaving Broggio to head the ball home.

One quickly became two for the hosts when Munroe worked his way down the left before pulling the ball across for Moore to slam a first-time finish past Harry Evans.

Villa were swarming all over their counterparts, and they made it three just before the 20-minute mark when Richards beat Evans to a loose ball, heading the ball past the ‘keeper before rolling it into an empty net.

The home side were on another attack and knocking the ball around with confidence before a series of errors handed Derby a lifeline.

A loose pass allowed the visitors to break but there appeared to be no danger once Josh Feeney came across to clear up. However, the defender’s back pass fell short of James Wright and Brown stole in and sent a shot past the Villa ‘keeper.

After an innocuous start, the second half sprang into life when Munroe was shown a second yellow card. Alex Gibson-Hammond went down as the pair went shoulder-to-shoulder, with Munroe in shock as the red card was brandished.

Their numerical disadvantage didn’t faze the hosts, who came close to restoring their three-goal lead when Tommi O’Reilly’s drive was tipped onto the crossbar.

Villa dropped deeper as the game wore on, holding their shape and seeing if their opponents had the quality to break them down.

But despite racking up the passes as they worked the ball from side to side, Derby were unable to trouble Wright, with Henry Jeffcott heading their best opening wide.