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Duane Holmes made his comeback from injury as Derby County Under-23s secured a first win of the Premier League 2 season.

Holmes, who has been out since suffering a thigh problem on international duty in June, played 45 minutes as the young Rams beat Southampton away 1-0 in Division One.

Graeme Shinnie and Chris Martin also played the full 90 minutes, with Jayden Mitchell-Lawson getting the only goal of the game in the second half.

Darren Wassall named a strong starting 11 for the game, with senior players Holmes and Shinnie joined by striker Martin. There were also starts for Jonathan Mitchell, Max Bird, Louie Sibley, Morgan Whittaker and Jayden Mitchell-Lawson - all having been in and around the first team.

It was Southampton, fresh from a dramatic 4-3 win over Manchester City in their opening game, who made the stronger start. Dan N'Lundula came closest when he curled an effort onto the post.

The young Rams were looking for their first win, after a narrow defeat to Chelsea last time out, and Holmes tried to find his range, but shot over. Holmes came close again four minutes later but his header from a Morgan Whittaker cross was saved by Jack Bycroft.

Holmes was looking lively on his return and Derby were dangerous on the break. Another Derby counter saw Mitchell-Lawson drive an effort which clipped the crossbar.

It was a cagey end to the half, but Southampton came close to making the breakthrough after a bit of untidiness on the edge of the Derby box, the ball broke to Will Smallbone on the left edge, who curled just wide of the far post.

Mitchell-Lawson really should have had a penalty on the stroke of half-time, but Kayne Ramsay's rash challenge somehow went unpunished.

Bycoft was forced into action before the whistle blew for the break, as Holmes crossed from the right and Martin's looping header dipped at the last minute and was tipped over.

Holmes was replaced by Max Hunt at the break, with 45 minutes in his legs on his comeback from injury. Whittaker came close two minutes after the restart, but his strike was kept out by Bycroft.

The deadlock was broken after 56 minutes. Martin picked the ball up about 25 yards from goal, played the ball out left to Bird who crossed to the back post. Whittaker headed back across goal and Mitchell-Lawson was there to slam the ball home.

Derby were solid defensively and restricted Southampton to any real clear-cut chances - Jake Vokins' cross enabling an N'Lundula header to hit the roof of the net. They did have the ball in the back of the net with 16 minutes left, but Ramsay's header was ruled offside.

After his goal had effectively secured three points for Derby, Mitchell-Lawson produced a sublime piece of skill at the byline to turn his man, and set up Sibley whose low strike was saved.