30 mins Jamie Miley shot. 1-0

44 mins Diallo penalty. 2-0

Half time: Rams 0 Toon 2

52 mins Lewis Miley volley. 3-0

63 mins Ndiweni shot. 4-0

72 mins Robinson header. 4-1

Full time: Rams 1 Toon 4

NUFC in PL2 - last three seasons:

2020/21: 13th of 13, 25 points from 24 games -16 GD (scored 31 conceded 47)
2021/22: 8th of 14, 38 points from 26 games -5 GD (scored 51 conceded 56)
2022/23: 8th of  11, 23 points from 20 games -6 GD (scored 35, conceded 51)

Newcastle U21s concluded their PL2 season on Monday night with the anticipated victory over Derby County at their temporary base of Loughborough University Stadium.

The Rams came into the game having taken just a single point all season from 19 league fixtures and were soon on the back foot; Rodrigo Vilca, Jamie Miley and Lewis Miley all trying their luck early on.

The Magpies broke the deadlock on the half hour when Vilca found space down the left and played it to Lewis Miley, who squared it to brother Jamie to fire home from the edge of the six yard box.

A minute before the break Billy Vigar fouled Harrison Ashby in the box and Amadou Diallo confidently converted the resultant spot kick.

2-0 up and apparently cruising, United were forced into a reshuffle straight from kickoff in the second half; newly-arrived home substitute Lennon Wheeldon seizing on an under-hit backpass from Remi Savage and Max Thompson racing out of his area to trip him with barely 12 seconds gone. 

Thompson was red-carded and substitute goalkeeper Will Brown introduced for Vilca. Brown's first action was to deal comfortably with the resultant free kick, but within five minutes he'd also brought down Wheeldon as the Derby player sought to profit from the goalkeeper's heavy first touch.

This time the offence was in the box and although referee Greg Rollason gave the penalty, he opted only to show a yellow card to a relieved Brown.

Wheeldon's awful effort from 12 yards barely reached the replacement goalkeeper and within two minutes Derby's misery was compounded as Newcastle opened up a three goal advantage with the goal of the game.

Lewis Miley began the move when cutting out a through ball midway inside his own half and his short pass to Nathan Carlyon saw him excellently pick out Diallo galloping into space on the United right.

A great first touch from the winger took him past Jack Bates and a dipping cross to the back post was met by Lewis Miley, who confidently volleyed the ball back across Evans from the edge of the six yard box.

3-0 became 4-0 on 63 minutes when good combination work on the right between Ashby and Diallo saw Jamie Miley play in Michael Ndiweni, who swept home the goal that matched the scoreline when the two sides met on Tyneside earlier in the season.

The Rams got one back in the 72nd minute when a deep cross from Bates on the right following a corner kick was headed in by Darren Robinson.

Victory for Newcastle saw them secure an eighth place finish, three places and 10 points off a spot in the promotion playoffs - their eighth successive failure to reach the top tier.

The race for the title and the one automatic promotion place will go to the final game on Friday, with Leeds United needing to avoid defeat at West Bromwich Albion in order to pip Southampton.

Leicester City are the first of the two relegated sides to drop down from Division One, with Wolves, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham and Spurs all still with a chance of joining them.

Biffa