Three second half goals saw Derby County’s Under 23s secure their first victory of 2017 in style as they fought back to defeat Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad in the Premier League Cup.

A goal down at the interval after Joe Hardy’s finish, Darren Wassall’s side came out fighting over the second 45 minutes and found a quick equaliser through Kellan Gordon 10 minutes after the restart.Continuing to press forward, Emil Riis Jakobsen bagged his first goal of the season to edge the Rams in front, before Mason Bennett smashed in a late penalty to deservedly seal all three points at the AJ Bell Stadium.Largely evenly contested over the first half, a five-minute stoppage halted this game after Erik Sarmiento suffered an innocuous off the ball incident that, sadly, forced him off on a stretcher.On came Hardy as Simon Davies shuffled his formation too with his introduction, but neither unsettled or disrupted the hosts’ early rhythm they had begun with in Salford.Henrich Ravas had been forced into two early saves before the deadlock was broken as Hardy squeezed a low left foot shot out of the goalkeeper’s reach and into the bottom corner.Wassall’s side responded well to falling behind, but aside from Jakobsen’s glancing header that flew wide of Daniel Grimshaw’s far post, they struggled to create clear openings, until added on time at the end of the half anyway.City’s quality continued to be evident throughout this period. Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, who scored a hat trick in the reverse meeting, and Paolo Fernandes pulled most of the strings, but aside from a tame shot from the latter, dogged defending from the Rams often prevented the hosts from troubling Ravas’ goal further.It looked as though Derby had got back on level terms earlier than they did too as the contest ticked deep into five minutes of added time at the end of the half.Enjoying plenty of joy down the right, Jayden Bogle whipped in another cross that Babos got the faintest of touches to, directing it across Grimshaw, but the ‘keeper’s far post came to his rescue.After ending the first 45 minutes strongly, Wassall’s side returned for the second half and simply picked up where they left off to produce an outstanding showing.Bennett fizzed over a half volley after good work by Jakobsen in the middle and it did not take them long after that to get a deserved equaliser. Grimshaw did well to instinctively deny Jakobsen's header, but could do nothing to prevent Gordon from smashing in the rebound from close range.The pressure continued as City struggled to get a grip of the contest. Jakobsen and Alefe Santos both had chances to edge the Rams in front – the former off target, and the latter forcing a simple save out of Grimshaw – but the visitors’ persistence was justly rewarded on 72 minutes.It was a big moment for Jakobsen too as he notched his first goal of the season – a cheeky flick from a lofted pass, which had too much of Grimshaw and nestled into the bottom corner.Wassall’s side were not done there either. The killer third goal came 10 minutes later, this time from the penalty spot after Jakobsen’s dangerous centre from the left found Babos, who was hauled down before he could shoot.Up stepped Bennett. The forward lashed in a high effort beyond the reach of Grimshaw to seal all three points in Salford as the Rams kept their Premier League Cup hopes well and truly alive with two games of their Group C campaign remaining.Grimshaw, Rosler, Humphreys, Oliver, Sarmiento (Hardy, 13), Patching, Nemane (Carlo Poveda, 62), Kongolo (C), Buckley-Ricketts, Boadu, FernandesPozo, Scott, DilrosunRavas, Bogle, Cover, Bainbridge, Macdonald; Elsnik (Bird, 64), Gordon, Babos; Santos, Bennett, Jakobsen (Davidson-Miller, 86)Rashid, Barnes, Mitchell-LawsonTweets by @ dcfcofficial