Derby County's Under-21s will face Carlisle United in a friendly match today, with the Blues looking to experiment and give crucial game time to players who need it. According to head coach Rob Elliot, the game will offer United the chance to "experiment" as well as give crucial game time to players who need it. Elliot believes the game is a good fit for United's pre-season schedule, saying: "When I came in and we had the pre-season fixture list, we didn't have a game that day. I knew the Salford game [on Tuesday] would be a big, tough test for us. I felt the Derby game [after that] would be a good one. They are very good, and I've used a couple of players from their under-21s before."
What happened?
The game will be a good test for Carlisle United, with Elliot saying: "It will give us a good test against Derby - a good team who play good football. They've got some really good players as well, so it will give us a chance to look at some of those - because you're always looking, aren't you?"
Why it matters for Derby County
The game will be an opportunity for Derby County's Under-21s to showcase their skills against a competitive opponent. Elliot is weighing up whether to involve David Ajiboye in the game after the wide man went off with a back injury in Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Salford. He has said he would not take any unnecessary risks on Ajiboye, who is expected to be fit for next Saturday's National League opener against Worthing.
What comes next?
The game will be a crucial test for Carlisle United, with Elliot saying: "We will get as much physical [work] into them, so then we can start as best we can for Worthing." The team is currently 8th in the Championship, with 69 points from 46 games, and a goal difference of +8. They are 26 points behind leaders Coventry, and have scored 67 goals this season, conceding 59.
