Derby County’s Under-21s came agonisingly close to claiming their first point of the 2022/23 campaign after falling to a 2-1 loss at West Bromwich Albion on Friday night.

Pat Lyons’ side, depleted in terms of numbers and experience in the early weeks of the new season following the club’s exit from administration in July, began their Premier League 2 -Division 2 campaign with a run of four successive defeats.

After boosting their ranks in recent weeks with Joe Haigh and Leigh Kavanagh arriving on loan, several players edging their way back to fitness after injury and positive time spent on the training ground, Lyons’ side thought they’d done enough to earn themselves a share of the spoils against the Baggies - but the hosts grabbed a late goal to claim the win.

Derby fell behind after only seven minutes through Mo Faal’s clinical finish at Hednesford Town’s Keys Park and, despite chances at both ends, no further goals followed in the opening 45 minutes.

Haigh, on loan from Chelsea, equalised on his Rams debut with a stunning individual goal with 20 minutes remaining, beating several players before finding the bottom corner, to set up an exciting final quarter of the contest.

Reyes Cleary grabbed the winner for Albion with 14 minutes remaining with a curling effort into the far corner beyond the reach of Harrison Foulkes in the Derby goal to ensure all three points went to the hosts.

Derby’s Under-21s now face back-to-back Premier League Cup fixtures away to AFC Bournemouth on Friday 23rd September (7pm kick-off) and at home to Queens Park Rangers on Monday 26th September (7pm kick-off), before returning to league action with a trip to Norwich City on Friday 30th September (7pm kick-off).

West Bromwich Albion Under-21s: Hollingshead (GK), Nguepissi, Harper-Bailey, Ashworth, Ingram, Whitwell (Wangussi 85), Andrews (C), Shaw, R Richards (Mitchell 65), Faal (Malcolm 65), Cleary.

Substitutes Not Used: Cisse, M Richards.

Derby County Under-21s: Foulkes (GK), Brailsford, Kelly-Caprani (Burton 76), D Robinson, Kavanagh, Solomon, Lo-Everton, Haigh, Cybulski, Nunn, Ibrahim (Trialist 82)

Substitutes Not Used: Roberts (GK), Hawkins, K Robinson.