NEWCASTLE UNITED’S Under-21s slipped to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Derby County at Whitley Park.

The Magpies got off to the worst possible start by conceding two goals inside the first seven minutes.

Charles Vernam met a cross to flick in the first after just 35 seconds before Timi Elsnik headed in the second shortly after.

Newcastle pulled one back on the stroke of half-time when Lewis McNall fired in a finish from a corner.

But the Rams made the game safe when Ivan Calero lifted a sweet finish over Freddie Woodman six minutes into the second half. That was how it stayed in front of 300 fans.

Newcastle: Woodman; Cobain, Pollock, Adu-Peprah, Laidler; Williams, Longstaff; Gallacher, Roberts, C Smith; McNall. Subs: Woolston, Liam Gibson, Lewis Gibson, Bailey, Barlaser.

MANCHESTER United moved to within three points of Sunderland in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League.

The Black Cats created enough openings to have scored themselves at the Leigh Sports Village but in the end a well worked James Weir goal won it for United.

It arrived with 21 minutes remaining when Matty Willock’s long ball was flicked on by Will Keane and Weir finished things off after getting behind the defence.

Mikael Mandron almost hit an equaliser in the closing stages but his effort was blocked on the line and the Red Devils – who included Adnan Januzaj in the side – held on.

Sunderland: Stryjek, Matthews, Brady, Beadling, T Robson, Agnew, Smith, E Robson, Greenwood, Lawson, Mandron. Subs: Talbot, McEvoy, Casey, Molyneux, Nelson.