Chelsea played our final group-stage game in the Under-18 Premier League Cup against Derby County on Saturday morning knowing that a win and a helping hand in the other fixture in this group would see us through to the quarter-finals.

After a shaky start as holders in the competition, losing to Southampton, we had returned to winning ways with an important win over Everton. Today's opponents Derby County started bottom of the table, having lost their first two games in the group.

Ed Brand made a few changes from last week’s win against West Bromwich Albion as Ted Curd, Somto Boniface, Kiano Dyer and Michael Golding were all drafted into the side.

Despite Derby’s poor form in this competition, they came out with no fear and took the lead in the opening moments of the game, catching our backline by surprise as Johnson Osong buried past Curd.

The conditions were slippery and wet as both sides showed loose touches in possession. Nonetheless, we took charge of proceedings, showing our quality on the ball.

We had to wait for the equaliser that our dominance deserved, and it came two minutes before the end of the first period as Tudor Mendel-Idowu continued his fine run of goalscoring form to slot beyond the reach of the keeper.

We pushed hard for the goal that would see us make it through to the quarter-finals as Mendel-Idowu and Donnell McNeilly had opportunities to put us ahead.

The home side were clinging on to a point and that was further underlined by the already booked Keilen Robinson, who fouled Louis Flower to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity. He received a straight red card.

With three minutes to go, though, second-half substitute McNeilly grabbed his second goal in as many games to give us the lead.

Soon after we grabbed a third as the impressive Mendel-Idowu scored his second of the game to put clear daylight between the two teams.

Despite our young Blues doing their job and winning, we still needed a helping hand from Everton and their 1-1 draw against table-toppers Southampton means that our journey in the competition for this season is over.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Ted Curd; Noah Hay (Chinonso Chibueze 81), Kaiden Wilson, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Somto Boniface, Harrison McMahon (c), Kiano Dyer (Donnell McNeilly 46), Tudor Mendel-Idowu, Michael Golding (Frankie Runham 74), Tyrique George, Louis Flower
Unused subs: Josh Acheampong, Luke Campbell
Scorers: Mendel-Idowu 43, 89, McNeilly 87

Derby County (4-2-3-1): Jack Thompson; Keilen Robinson, Callum Moore, Nelson Aideyan, Billy Gough; Adebayo Fapetu, Sam Sebagabo (Cameron Ashia 65); Reece Nicholas-Davies, Zion Dixon, Johnson Osong, Lennon Wheeldon
Unused subs: Farren Simons, Tristan Gill, Josh Shattell
Scorer: Osong 2
Booked: Aideyan 10, Robinson 40, Gough 53, Fapetu 76
Sent off: Robinson 78