Rams Reserves too sharp for Blades as Prijovic bags brace
A young Rams side deservedly saw off their more experienced opponents to record the team's third win of their totesport.com League Central Division campaign yesterday afternoon.
Derby raced into a two-goal lead inside the opening 10 minutes through defender Jermaine Johnson and Henrik Ojamaa.
Senegalese international striker Henri Camera pulled one back for the Blades but Prijovic made it 3-1 at the interval, before wrapping up the win with a second-half header.
With most of the first team preparing for tonight's friendly in Holland, Derby's side featured only one senior player in Jay McEveley, who captained the side at centre-back.
McEveley played wearing a mask to protect the cheekbone he fractured at Middlesbrough just over three weeks ago.
It was the defender's first appearance since sustaining the injury and subsequently suffering a scare on the operating table when his heart stopped for two minutes during surgery.
There was also a start for 17-year-old Academy midfielder Medi Abalimba, signed from Southend United in the summer.
The Blades had more than a sprinkling of senior players in their team, which included the likes of left-back Gary Naysmith, Derby-born midfielder Lee Williamson, wingers Glen Little and Kyel Reid, former Alfreton Town man Ryan France and Camara.
Despite this, the home side found themselves trailing inside five minutes.
After Naysmith had fouled Prijovic on the right, Greg Mills curled the free kick to the far post, from where the unmarked Johnson firmly headed home from six yards.
Prijovic might have done better with a first-time effort from 10 yards that keeper Adam Billard saved comfortably, while Camara flashed a shot wide after beating the offside trap at the other end.
Derby doubled their lead after 10 minutes. Breaking swiftly, the lively Abalimba threaded a perfectly weighted pass through the middle to Ojamaa, who coolly slid a first-time shot past the onrushing Billard from 12 yards.
Abalimba lifted a shot narrowly over after being set up by Prijovic, while Blades striker Jordan Slew somehow contrived to fire over after Camara had presented him with a great chance following a mazy run.
Camara, though, did pull a goal back for the hosts in the 29th minute, outmuscling Johnson as the pair chased a ball down the middle, before confidently placing a shot past the helpless Ross Atkins.
It should have been 2-2 moments later after Johnson's crucial block fell kindly for Camara but this time the former Wigan Athletic frontman screwed his shot wide.
The Rams restored their two-goal cushion in the 37th minute, Prijovic showing good strength and poise to hold off his marker before lashing an unstoppable shot, on the bounce, past the diving Billard from the edge of the box.
It remained 3-1 at the break, after Ojamaa had turned Mills' low cross straight at the keeper and Little's 20-yard strike was kept out by Atkins.
United made a double change for the second half but fell further behind after 55 minutes.
Mills won a corner on the right, which he delivered himself to the near post and Prijovic's glancing header found its way into the far corner, possibly via a deflection.
Prijovic had a couple of half-chances to complete his hat-trick but could not find the net a third time, while the Blades were restricted to shoot from distance, none of which troubled the goal.
Derby gave late cameos to their three substitutes, including England Under-19 international goalkeeper James Severn, who replaced Atkins.
But he had little to do as the Rams saw the match out comfortably.
SHEFFIELD UNITED: Billard, Brown, Maguire, Darlow (Chappell, 46), Naysmith, Little, Williamson, France, Reid, Camara, Slew (Foster, 46). Other subs: Andrew, Roe, S-Latef.
DERBY COUNTY: Atkins (Severn, 82), Garton, Johnson, McEveley, Dudley, Mills (Dillon, 79), Abalimba, Mendy, R Connolly, Ojamaa (Keane, 82), Prijovic.
REFEREE: D Drysdale (Lincolnshire).
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