ROVERS Under-18s crashed to a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Derby County on a miserable afternoon at Moor Park.

Gary Bowyer's young charges got off to the worst possible start, falling behind to a goal after just 50 seconds, and things then got progressively worse as they shipped three more before half-time.

Despite a spirited second-half fightback, Rovers then paid the price for more slack defending when the Rams added a fifth on the break late on.

Gary said: "It was a poor display from the very first minute and the standard was unacceptable, especially in the first half."

Playing with a strong wind at their backs, Derby used the conditions to their advantage and broke the deadlock in the first minute when Bjorn Bussmann was deceived by a wind-assisted free-kick.

Rovers then had three quick opportunities to snatch an equaliser, but Jason Banton, Micah Evans and then Josh Morris were all denied by a combination of good goalkeeping and last-ditch defending.

From that point onwards, Derby took full control and effectively had the points sewn up by the 36th minute, by which point they led 4-0.

With the wind in their favour, Rovers had numerous chances to reduce the deficit in the second half, but Tom Hitchcock and Banton failed to convert them.

Derby then rubbed further salt into the wounds when they took advantage of some poor defending and added a fifth shortly before the final whistle.

ROVERS: Bussmann (Swann 46), C. O'Connor, Hall, Nicholas, Hanley, Parry (Ajagbe 56), Evans, Morris, Hitchcock, Morrissey, Banton.
Subs not used: Brierley, Ryan.