Derby County’s Under-21s will return to Premier League Cup action when they host Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday evening.
The Under-21s will take on the Seagulls at Loughborough University Stadium (7pm kick-off) and dcfc.co.uk has brought together all the key information you will need to know ahead of the game.
Premier League Cup Format...
Mirroring the format of the UEFA Champions League, the Premier League Cup consists of eight four-team groups, with each club playing their opposing teams both home and away.
The Premier League Cup campaign includes Academies from Categories 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Clubs in the third and fourth categories have been competing in qualifiers to join the top-level Academies in the group stage.
Derby County are in Group B alongside Brighton & Hove Albion, AFC Bournemouth and Queens Park Rangers and the full fixture list can be found here.
Team News...
Defender Max Bardell could feature for the Under-21s to increase his match minutes after coming off the bench for the first-team in their Emirates FA Cup First Round replay win over Torquay United on Tuesday night. Bardell’s outing off the bench saw him record his first minutes of the season following a hamstring problem sustained towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
Will Grewal-Pollard, Connor Dixon, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Darren Robinson have all been sidelined in recent weeks owing to injury and are unlikely to feature once again.
2022/23 Premier League Cup So Far...
Derby County’s Under-21s have one point to their name from their two Premier League Cup group matches so far this season.
Their group campaign started with a 2-1 loss at AFC Bournemouth in late September, despite taking the lead through defender Harrison Solomon's early goal at the Vitality Stadium.
Pat Lyons' side picked up their first point a few days later as they played out a 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers at Loughborough University Stadium with on-loan Chelsea midfielder Joe Haigh scoring late on for the Rams.
To view the Under-21s' full 2022/23 fixture list, please click here.
Live Stream...
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RamsTV is not streaming the game live on Friday night.
Full match highlights from the Premier League Cup clash will appear online on dcfc.co.uk following the match.
Ticket Information...
Derby County’s Under-21s will play most of their home fixtures for the 2022/23 season at Loughborough University.
Supporters will once again be able to attend the matches and tickets can be purchased in advance of each fixture from the Loughborough Sport website.
Advanced purchases are advised, and all tickets will be for the terracing areas of Loughborough University Stadium.
Tickets are priced as follows:
2022/23 Season Ticket Holders: FREE (when showing their Season Ticket Card)
Advance Purchases: Adult £3.50, Concessions £1.50 (these include online booking fees)
Matchday Purchases: Adult £5, Concessions £2.50 (Please note payment by cash is NOT accepted at Loughborough University Stadium)
* The doors will open for each match from 30 minutes before kick-off.
Stadium Address: Loughborough University Stadium, Loughborough, LE11 3TL.
Tickets for all of Derby County Under-21s’ fixtures at Loughborough University Stadium can be purchased here: loughboroughsport.ticketline.co.uk/derby-county-fc-u23.
