Derby County’s Under 23s got their Premier League 2 Division 1 campaign off and running as they held their nerve to defeat Reading 2-1 at St George’s Park.

Charles Vernam gave the Rams the perfect start by scoring his seventh goal of the season early doors, before the hosts spent large periods of the first 45 minutes camped in their own half.

Impressive on the high press, Darren Wassall’s side doubled their advantage through a sublime Callum Guy free kick and could have added further goals.

Thomas McIntyre’s late header made the closing stages nervy, but Derby showed resilience in abundance to keep the Royals at bay and claim their first three points in the league this season.

Conceding early goals had been a big problem for Derby’s Under 23s in the build up to this fixture, but on this occasion, after weathering an early Reading storm, the hosts broke the deadlock after just six minutes against the run of play.

Instructed to squeeze their opponents high up the pitch, Vernam displayed just why that was the case as he robbed back possession deep inside the Royals’ territory, rounded Luke Southwood, before sliding a shot into an empty net.

The rest of the first half needed Derby to be at their defensive best as Reading dominated possession and created a host of chances.

Many of them fell to the impressive Josh Barrett. He had three chances alone as he fired over, then wide, and was also denied by Henrich Ravas, Derby’s Slovakian goalkeeper.

Tyler Frost also had an opportunity, but he didn’t get a clear connection on a through ball, leaving Ravas with a simple save to make.

In the second half, Derby were far more impressive and did not allow the visitors to settle in possession, pressing them back right towards their own goal.

Their early pressure told as some individual brilliance from Guy saw the Rams double their advantage after his precise free kick evaded everyone in the area, deceived Southwood and nestled in the bottom corner.

It could have been more too as time ticked down. Vernam, on seven goals for the season, was denied by the woodwork after displaying a change of pace, whilst the same man was denied by Southwood after another break away.

By no means were Reading out of the contest. Frost saw an instinctive poked effort saved by Ravas at his near post, whilst a combination of the ‘keeper and Farrend Rawson, the captain, prevented the scoreline from being halved.

The Royals’ persistence did, however, pay off and they clawed one back to set up a grandstand finish in Staffordshire as McIntyre converted a deep corner at the far post.

Reading threw everything in their quest for a late equaliser, but could not find a way past a stubborn Derby backline that was in no mood to surrender their advantage and that proved to be the case as Wassall’s men secured their second successive win in all competitions.

Derby County U23s: Ravas, Stabana, Rawson, Cover, Macdonald; Guy, Santos, Gordon, Vernam; Walker (Cresswell, 79), Jakobsen (Babos, 46)

Substitutes not used: Yates, Thomas, Bateman

Reading U23s: Southwood, Sheppard, Griffin, Wieser, McIntyre, Jules, Barrett, Rinomhota, Cardwell, Frost, Esteves de Sousa (Andresson, 84)

Substitutes not used: Vancooten, Tupper, Bennett, Smith

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