Having recorded their first league victory of the season away at Fulham earlier this month, Newcastle's U21s returned to action against Derby on Monday afternoon.

The sides met at U18 level on Saturday with United winning 5-4 and another goal-laden encounter soon unfolded in the sunshine at the Rams' training ground.

The visitors were ahead on 19 minutes when Gael Bigirimana drilled a low right foot shot past former Magpies 'keeper Jonathan Mitchell, having run on to a Dan Barlaser corner that was cut back to him.

That lead lasted less than two minutes though before Craig Bryson levelled and Offrande Zanzala then put Derby ahead on the half hour from a narrow angle.

The home side briefly enjoyed a two goal advantage when Ivan Calero beat Brendan Pearson three minutes after the interval, only for United to reply instantly, after Ivan Toney was flattened by both Rams centre halves as he raced into the box.

In front of scouts from various Football League sides, the in-form striker got up to confidently side-foot home the resultant spot kick for a fourth goal in four games.

Striker Zanzala's second made it 4-2 to Derby on 55 minutes, only for Callum Williams to again reduce the arrears within three minutes, Mitchell this time touching a Barlaser centre onto his crossbar and the Magpies defender reacting first to force the rebound in.

Derby regained a two goal lead through Calero with 20 minutes remaining, only for Sean Longstaff to run onto a Toney through ball and shoot home barely ninety seconds later, making it 4-5.

An incident-packed game then saw United reduced to ten men on 77 minutes, Bigirimana collecting a second booking in quick succession from referee Thomas Bramall - this one for a needless trip on Mason Bennett.

The Rams duly made their extra man count when Bennett netted on 84 minutes to round off the scoring.

PS: adding insult to injury, the bus service that runs from Derby city centre past the training ground at Oakwood is branded as "the black cat" - we've had quite enough of them for the duration thank you....

Biffa - thanks to GW