- Man City U21 have won their last 5 matches, including a 5-1 victory away at Birmingham Academy.
- Derby County U21 have won their last two games, including a 4-2 home win over West Ham United Academy.
Man City to cruise to another comfortable victory
Manchester City U21 have shown their Premier League 2 title credentials by winning their last 5 games in a row, including a 5-1 away win over Birmingham Academy and a 2-0 win at home to Liverpool Academy.
Benjamin Wilkinson’s team have won 4 and lost 5 from 9 away games in Premier League 2, conceding 15 goals, but their attacking play is in fine form and they’re likely to overpower Derby County in this encounter.
With 37 points from 18 matches, Man City U21 sit in 3rd place in Premier League 2, and have played some of the best football in the division under Wilkinson, who has continued the possession-based, positional play philosophy.
Derby can’t be underestimated
Derby County U21 are 27th in Premier League 2 having collected just 14 points from 17 games, and while Jake Buxton has seen his side win their last 2, a return of 2 wins in 8 at home suggests they’ll struggle in this clash.
The home side like to keep things tight, absorb pressure, and hit on the counter-attack, with Justin Oguntolu providing a spark in attack with 4 goals in their last 5. Manchester City U21 have youthful talent of their own in midfield maestro Oscar Bobb and frontman Carlos Borges, both of whom have scored and assisted regularly in recent weeks.
The underdog’s can provide a goal
While City are the clear favourites for this one, at 17/50 they seem overvalued, and Derby County U21 are also quite low at 67/10. Both teams have shown some attacking flair recently, and the clash of identities between Man City U21’s high-possession, patient build-up football and Derby County U21’s direct, counter-attacking play will make for an interesting chess match.
City will dominate the game, however, with young defender Rico Lewis providing some much-needed composure and technical quality at the base of their build-up and transitioning. The visitors will have too much for Derby County U21, but the hosts can get a goal or two in a thrilling encounter, so ‘Over 2.5 goals’ looks the way to go at 7/25.
