DERBY County Under-21s suffered a 1-0 defeat at the Macron Stadium tonight.
Bulgarian Georg Iliev scored the only goal for Bolton Wanderers U21s in the ninth minute of the Under-21 Premier League Division Two encounter.
Steve Taylor, who took charge of the game in the absence of Lee Glover, fielded a strong looking line-up for the contest with Mason Bennett making his first start. The 18-year-old's youth loan at Bradford City means he is eligible to play for his parent club in Development games and he replaced Kwame Thomas in the forward line.
Derby's slow start to the contest would ultimately cost them the game as they failed to deal with an early Bolton corner.
Chris Lester took the set piece from the left and his deep curling cross was not dealt with and Iliev was was presented with an open goal to make it 1-0.
After 15 minutes, the young striker could have doubled his tally but Rams keeper Mats Morch produced a fine reflex save to keep the ball out.
It proved to be a turning point for the Rams as they took control of the contest.
Ivan Calero fired over, while Alefe Santos curled an effort into the arms of Bolton keeper Paddy Kenny.
The Rams made a change at half time, Farrend Rawson replacing Rhys Sharpe, and continued to take the game to the Trotters in the second half.
Bennett came within inches of finding the equaliser as he curled an effort just wide of Kenny's far post, before striking a left-footed effort over the bar.
Yet at the other end, Bolton almost doubled their advantage when Iliev fired over from close range.
The Rams began to throw everything at Bolton in their search for equaliser. Santos had a low drive turned away for a corner before substitute Shaquille McDonald hit another effort wide.
The last chance fell to Jamie Hanson.
A corner from the right was swung in by Santos and McDonald flicked a header on, the ball finding its way to Hanson at the far post. But the defender skied his shot.
Derby County U21s: Morch, Hendrie, Rawson (Sharpe, 45), Hanson, Lowe, Guy, Koblenz, Santos, Bunjaku (McDonald, 79), Calero, Bennett Substitutes not used: McDonald, Etheridge, Vernam, Moulton
