Sam Winnall scored the only goal of the game in his comeback match for the under-23s against Crewe at Hillsborough on Friday afternoon.
Winnall, recovering from a knee ligament injury he sustained while on loan at Derby towards the end of last season, played the opening 45 minutes against Crewe’s youngsters and marked his return with a smart close-range effort from a cross by Jack Stobbs.
The striker went close to making it two just before the break when another effort hit a post.
Sam Hutchinson also made his return after a long-term groin problem and played just past the hour-mark before being substituted.
First-team squad players Joe Wildsmith and Morgan Fox were included in the starting line-up, with Wildsmith pulling off some good saves.
Wildsmith, Hughes, O’Grady, Hutchinson (Clarke 62), Fox, Kirby, Shaw (Waldock 81), Stobbs, Grant, Lonchar, Winnall (Hammoud 46). Unused substitutes: McCulloch, Brennan.