Calum Macdonald and Joe Bateman scored as Derby County beat Colchester United 2-1, but their win at St George's Park was not enough to take them into the knockout stages.
Macdonald opened the scoring from close range with two minutes gone before Bateman pounced to make it 2-0 on 38 minutes, before Derby striker Lewis Walker was sent off and Eoin McKeown headed in for the U's.
Derby are bottom of Group C with an inferior goal difference to Colchester and Manchester City - with all three teams on seven points, three behind Hull City.
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INTERVIEW: Pat Lyons was pleased to see #DCFCU23s' battling qualities come to the fore against @ColU_Official: https://t.co/3JSlR2Y1OF 📝 pic.twitter.com/m5ObIrw06E
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) February 27, 2017
The Rams denied the point Colchester needed to guarantee a last 16 place, but if the U's avoid defeat in the final group match at home to Hull on Thursday they will progress. Otherwise Man City will join Hull in the knockout stages.
Derby's next Premier League 2 match is against Leicester City at St George's Park on Monday 6 March.
See: Derby report | Colchester report
(Photos courtesy of Andy Clarke/Derby County FC)