Jamie Miley opened the scoring on the half hour mark at the Loughborough University Stadium, completing a neat counter-attack, before Amadou Diallo’s penalty doubled the visitors’ advantage before the half-time whistle.

Magpies goalkeeper Max Thompson was sent off in a frantic start to the second half, following a last man challenge, before substitute shot-stopper Will Brown saved a penalty from Lennon Wheeldon minutes later, making amends after bringing down the Rams forward inside the box.

Lewis Miley’s volley extended the visitors’ lead before Michael Ndiweni’s composed finish added gloss to the scoreline, with Darren Robinson’s header proving a consolation for County as United’s youngsters ended their Premier League 2 campaign in winning fashion.

Ben Dawson made one change from the side which claimed a dramatic 4-3 win against Norwich City’s second-string last week as Jamie Miley, who signed his first professional contract with his boyhood club last summer, replaced Ryan Fraser in the starting line-up.

The young Magpies were aiming to secure back-to-back Premier League 2 victories for the first time since October and faced a Derby side who had suffered 18 defeats from 19 winless Division Two matches.

Lewis Miley, who scored the winner against the Canaries’ second-string last week, went close to netting the first goal of the evening as the 16-year-old’s free-kick flew narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

Thompson, a representative of England at under-18 level, was forced into action shortly after as the tall shot-stopper held Billy Vigar’s low effort from the edge of the box.

In the 30th minute, Newcastle’s youngsters broke the deadlock as Jamie Miley netted his first goal at under-21 level. As the visitors sprung a counter-attack, Rodrigo Vilca fed Lewis Miley before the latter teed up his older brother inside the penalty area who cooly slotted the ball into the net.

With half-time nearing, Newcastle’s second-string doubled their advantage through Diallo’s spot-kick. After Harrison Ashby, who joined the Magpies from West Ham United in January, was bundled over inside the box, Diallo calmly placed the ball past Rams goalkeeper Harry Evans.

The second half began in chaotic fashion as Thompson received a straight red card inside the opening 60 seconds, bringing down Wheeldon on the edge of the box after Remi Savage’s intended back pass to the goalkeeper was intercepted by the Derby substitute.

Substitute goalkeeper Will Brown was introduced to the field but committed a penalty after bundling Wheeldon over inside the penalty area after chasing down the 21-year-old whilst in possession.

However, the Newcastle shot-stopper redeemed himself after denying Wheeldon from the spot, guessing the correct way before holding the attempt from 12 yards.

Despite their disadvantage, Newcastle added a third in the 56th minute as Lewis Miley scored his fifth goal of the season in all competitions at under-21 level. After Nathan Carlyon’s neat pass found Diallo on the right flank, the winger’s lofted cross found Miley at the back post before the Stanley-born teenager directed an impressive volley into the far right-hand corner.

In the 63rd minute, Newcastle netted their fourth of the evening as Ndiweni netted his third Premier League 2 goal of the 2022/23 campaign, latching onto Jamie Miley’s through ball before confidently slotting the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

Newcastle’s hopes of a clean sheet were squandered in the 72nd minute as Derby pulled a goal back through Robinson, who powered a fierce close-range header beyond Brown.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Max Thompson, Harrison Ashby, Remi Savage (Charlie Wiggett 82), Alex Murphy, Matt Bondswell (c), Nathan Carlyon, Jamie Miley (James Huntley 73), Lewis Miley, Amadou Diallo, Rodrigo Vilca (Will Brown 46), Michael Ndiweni (Jordan Hackett 73).

Subs not used: Isaac Westendorf.