Three second half goals saw Derby County’s Under-21s fall to defeat at Aston Villa in their final away fixture of the 2022/23 season in Premier League 2 - Division 2 on Friday night.

After a scoreless first half at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath Training Ground, a brace from Chisom Afoka and a single strike from Josh Feeney handed the hosts a 3-0 win.

Pat Lyons' side held firm in the opening 45 minutes and could have taken the lead themselves when on-loan Arsenal forward Kido Taylor-Hart fired an effort against the crossbar, but they couldn’t keep Villa at bay after half-time.

Afoka opened the scoring early in the second half, albeit it came with an element of fortune. Derby goalkeeper Harry Evans kept out his initial penalty, which was awarded as a result of a foul by Kwaku Oduroh, but the Villa forward made no mistake with the rebound from a few yards out.

Feeney added Villa’s second after the hour with a header from a corner before Afoka rounded off the scoring with a header of his own shortly afterwards.

Derby’s Under-21s have one league game remaining in the 2022/23 season when they host Newcastle United at Loughborough University Stadium on Monday 24th April (7pm kick-off), but before then they will face local non-league side Buxton FC in the Derbyshire Senior Cup Final at Pride Park Stadium on Wednesday 19th April (7:45pm kick-off).

Derby County Under-21s: Evans (GK), Oduroh (Brailsford 82), Cox, Robinson (C), Grewal-Pollard, Taylor-Hart, Bates, Hawkins, Aghatise (Nunn 22), Brown, Vigar (Oseni 70).

Substitutes Not Used: Roberts (GK), Gough.