Charles Vernam’s tenth goal of the season proved to be just consolation as Manchester City’s Under 23s turned on the style to run out 5-1 winners at Pride Park Stadium.

Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, in particular, had a night to remember as he bagged a hat trick, whilst Joe Hardy got their names on the scoresheet in a complete and classy performance from the visitors as they got their Premier League Cup campaign up and running in Derbyshire.The Rams are still without a win in the competition at the midway point – having a recorded a defeat and a draw with Hull City and Colchester United respectively.Before City hit their stride, the opening stages of this meeting was end-to-end and open, as both outfits create a couple of early clear goalscoring opportunities.After Paolo Fernandes, the 18-year-old attacking Spaniard, saw an effort blocked by Farrend Rawson, Derby had two clear chances – one that was crucially blocked as they piled for, whilst Ian Lawlor made another save.After that, the visitors found their feet and just grew in stature, bossing the possession statistics as they camped themselves in the Derby half and with it, chances were ultimately created.Luke Bolton forced a routine save out of Jonathan Mitchell after cutting inside Kyron Stabana on his left foot, whilst Rawson had to scamper back to produce a last-gasp goalline clearance beating Diaz to the ball after a Hardy effort had squirmed through Mitchell’s fingertips.The first goal came shortly after the midpoint of the first half after a vibrant City had continued to build momentum. It came from a break away as the visitors drew a couple of Derby players out of position, gifting Buckley-Ricketts some space on the left, who in turn cut the ball back to Hardy, who finished with aplomb from 18-yards out.After Vernam shot wide at the other end, City notched their second following a move that personified their quality on the night. Will Patching, the composer in midfielder, picked the ball up deep and lofted a precise weighted pass into the feet of Buckley-Ricketts, who finished the move off by chipping the ball over the advancing Mitchell.After that, it was a deadly 10-minute second half spell that really did the damage, with the third goal proving to be particularly detrimental – coming just 50 seconds into the restart as Buckley-Ricketts collected the ball on the left, danced inside, and bent a right foot shot into the far corner.Mitchell made two fine saves before the fourth went in after Diaz, a highly-rated 17-year-old who has featured for Pep Guardiola’s first team this term, smacked a precise shot just beyond the outstretched fingertips of Mitchell and into corner of the goal.Buckley-Ricketts completed his hat trick moments later, finishing into the far corner of the goal after the wideman had seen his initial effort had been blocked.The remainder of the game from that point ebbed and flowed as Wassall’s side worked hard at ensuring no further damage was sustained.The hosts created their own chances too as time wore down. Alex Babos, the substitute, screwed a shot wide from the edge of the area and Vernam, having escaped down the right, saw a cross-shot float harmlessly over from an acute angle.The Rams did get themselves on the scoreline as City failed to deal with Callum Guy’s deep corner and as the ball to the feet of Vernam, he was on hand to turn into the back of the net from six-yards out.Mitchell, Cover, Rawson, Lelan, Stabana; Hanson, Guy, Elsnik; Gordon (Babos, 67), Santos (Jakobsen, 46), VernamRavas, Macdonald, WalkerLawlor (Huag, 70), Horsfield, Humphreys, Adarabioyo, Tasende, Patching, Bolton (Duhaney, 58), Fernandes, Hardy, Diaz, Buckley-Ricketts (Smith, 77)Rosler, Dele-BashiruTweets by @ dcfcofficial