Highlights, report and reaction: Derby County U21s 1 Brentford B 4 | OneFootball

Brentford B put on an impressive display on Friday night beating Derby County 4-1 in the PL Cup at Matlock Town.

Ethan Brierley netted a hat-trick with Isaac Holland also scoring as Brentford moved to second place in Group I of the PL Cup following their thrashing of Derby.

The young Bees travelled to Derby knowing a win over the Rams would be key to keeping their PL Cup journey alive and give them a boost as they aim to get out of Group I, where they previously sat third place on three points after three games.

Brentford started the game with a high intensity and were rewarded with a goal just three minutes into the game.

Brierley collected the ball following a well worked corner and showed composure to take on a Derby defender before finding the bottom right corner with a curled shot from outside the box.

Derby started to see more of the ball following the early Brentford goal as the Rams tried to get a foothold in the game.

The hosts tested Reggie Rose in the Brentford net when Niall McAndrew found space inside the box, but his shot was gathered well by Rose.

Rose was called into action moments later when Tristan Gill let off a powerful strike, but his effort was again stopped by the keeper.

Brentford had two unbelievable chances to get themselves a second just before the break following a counter-attack lead by Isaac Holland.

Holland drove forward with the ball from inside his own half before skipping past Derby’s Tristan Gill.

The right-wing back then saw his effort from close range cleared off the line with the ball falling to Ashley Hay who had his shot blocked on the line following an excellent piece of defending from Derby.

Brentford did manage to grab a second right on the edge of half-time when Brierley volleyed home at the far post following an excellent piece of skill from Tony Yogane, the left-wing back beat Isaac Gordon on the left flank before delivering a perfect cross.

Derby needed to make a quick start to the second half, and they did exactly that with striker Manni Ilesanmi finding space for a shot, but his effort was saved by Rose.

The young Bees were extremely effective when they utilised their wing-backs, Yogane and Holland who consistently had the beating of their markers.

Holland came close with a powerful shot from distance just after the hour mark with the ball whistling just over the bar.

Brentford were playing with so much confidence and continued to push forward in search of more goals.

Yogane was a threat all night for the Bees and played a big part in the visitors third after being brought down inside the box.

Brierley stepped up and confidently tucked his penalty into the bottom corner sealing an impressive hat-trick on 74 minutes.

With Derby committing men forward it allowed the visitors to break on the counter, Benji Athur released Hay in behind the Derby defence, but the striker’s effort came off the post.

Derby managed to grab a consolation goal towards the end of the match when substitute Owen Eames ended a nice move.

Brentford went on to wrap up a brilliant day at the office when Holland got a deserved goal following a great performance as he got on the end of Hay’s cross to the back post.

Derby County Under-21s: Price, Gordon, Gill, Tola, Osayande, Robinson, Perry, Allen, Ilesanmi, Mcandrew, Osong

Subs: Eames, Thompson, Spencer, Robinson, Oguntolu

Brentford B: Rose, Holland, Yogane, Ji-soo, Fredrick, Arthur, Krauhaus (Laidlaw, 86’), Brierley, Hay, Owen, Morgan (Dickov, 90’)

Subs: Williams, Lisbie, Dickov, Stephenson, Laidlaw

Neil MacFarlane reacts