Match Reports

Albion secure PL2 opening day win at Derby

Second-half strikes seal all three points at Pride Park.

By Charlie Hanson • 16 August 2021

By DCFC - Andy Clarke
Cameron Peupion marked his under-23s debut with a fine finish.

An expert away performance from Albion gave Andrew Crofts his first victory as permanent under-23s head coach, as they defeated Derby County.

Goals from Cameron Peupion and Evan Ferguson in a frenzied six minutes in the second half that also saw James Furlong dismissed were enough to secure a 2-0 win.

The game was brought to an early stop when Tyree Wilson suffered a serious injury after a challenge from Andrew Moran, with the Derby midfielder stretchered off after a nine-minute hold-up.

By Nigel Keene
Andrew Crofts takes his side to Goodison Park tonight

The break in play dampened the intensity of the game, until the half hour mark when Max Bardell’s stinging cross from the right looked to catch out Tom McGill at his near post but the keeper read it well and dived to his left to tip it round the post for a corner.

That seemed to be the spark the game needed, but it was Albion who were fired into life.

Peupion was denied brilliantly by Derby keeper Harrison Foulkes in a one-v-one before the Australian was on the end of a kick from Eiran Cashin in the box as the Rams skipper looked to clear the ball from a corner and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.

Lorent Tolaj had given Albion a real presence up front and was on penalty duties, but the Switzerland Under-19 international was denied by Foulkes who dived to his right to keep out the strike.

Tolaj nodded wide from an inswinging corner, before Moran was played in by Jayson Molumby but his low finish was tipped wide by the impressive Foulkes.

Ed Turns had to be alert just after the restart when Marko Borkovic’s snapshot effort from eight yards was brilliantly blocked by the defender, but Albion finally got the better of Foulkes with 25 minutes to go.

By DCFC - Andy Clarke
James Furlong setup both goals for Albion, before being shown a red card.

Having worked the ball out to the left, Furlong crossed in low finding Peupion in the middle, who turned the ball past the Derby keeper.

It was the start of an action-packed six minutes for Furlong, whose superb cross found substitute Evan Ferguson at the back post to head home an Albion second just moments later.

That would prove to be his last positive contribution for the evening, as his lunging challenge on Bardell on the edge of the Albion box saw him pick up his second yellow card, leaving Albion a man short for the final 20 minutes.

Despite their advantage, Derby’s waves of pressure were weathered by Albion until the final moments, when two smart stops from McGill ensured Albion took home all three points – the keeper denying Derby from a deflected cross before Bartosz Cybulski’s well-struck effort was tipped wide of goal.

Crofts’ team are back in action at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre this Friday, as they take on a West Ham team who defeated Arsenal 6-1 on Monday night.

Albion: McGill, Packham, Tsoungui, Turns, Furlong, Molumby (Hinchy 71), Spong, Peupion, Leonard, Moran (Offiah 77), Tolaj (Ferguson 46).

On the bench: Desbois, Miller, Offiah, Hinchy.

Albion goals: Peupion 66, Ferguson 72

Red card: Furlong