Hello and welcome to Molineux Stadium, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers, for this Premier League 2 clash between Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s and West Bromwich Albion U23s. My name is James Bishop and I’ll be taking you through all of the action in tonights Black Country Derby.
Both sides were on the road in their previous outings, neither able to pick up three points. Wolves took a 2-0 loss to Stoke City and West Brom were held to a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest. These two will be eager to take home all three points tonight and get back on track.
West Brom U23s boss Richard Beale had a few words on tonights historic youth fixture:
TEAM NEWS
Some big names in both these starting XI’s! The two biggest coming from West Brom with the likes of Kenneth Zohore and Alex Palmer lining up for The Baggies. Could be a long night for The Wolves.
We’ve got a little light show to watch as well here, The Wolves pulling out all the party tricks here!
With the light show done, the teams are ready and we should be playing shortly…
And we are underway!
[4] Wolves have had most of the ball early on here and It’s number seven, Jack Hodnett, who beats his man and fashions the first half-chance. He finds Dexter Lembikisa, who works hard to win the ball. However, he finds himself offside from the first pass
[9] It’s Wolves again here, this time threatening the Baggies’ goal. Number nine, Lee Harkin, drives into a small gap. He strikes low to Alex Palmer’s left, however, The Baggies’ shot stopper is equal to it.
[10] GOAL WOLVES! (CHEM CAMPBELL) We have a breakthrough and it’s number eleven, Chem Campbell, who has it. The corner resulting from Palmer’s previous save is whipped in by Hodnett, it is met by Campbell who rises well and nods it on into the far corner
[12] West Brom have their first chance to threaten. It’s number nine, Kenneth Zohore, who finds space to run in behind. Knowing he is going to be caught, he attempts to square it to any oncoming West Brom support however no one is there to tap home.
[19] The Baggies have a free-kick on the left side. It is swung in to the back post where it is met by Zohore, who heads back across goal. It is latched onto by number ten, Aurio Teixeira, however his effort is well blocked.
[23] West Brom’s Teixeira is in on the action again. He beats two Wolves defenders and fires an effort towards goal but his shot is blocked by Kenneth Zohore who knew nothing about it until it hit him.
[31] It’s all Wolves right now with constant pressure coming down this left side through Lembikisa. He has three attempts at drilled crosses all eventually being cleared by West Brom defenders. Wolves could be on for a second if they keep this up.
[40] Wolves win a free-kick about twenty-five yards out, quite central. It appeared to be number ten, Owen Hesketh, taking however, Wolves attempt to catch The Baggies out with a quick ball by Campbell into the back post. Number four, Michael Agboola, can’t get onto it however he is offside either way.
1 minute added here
HALF-TIME: Wolverhampton Wanderers U23 1-0 West Bromwich Albion U23
It is time for the half time food I believe…
And that’s half-time! Wolves head in one goal to the good here after a lovely header from Chem Campbell. It’s been pretty much all Wolves so far, West Brom failing to to have a shot all half. Wolves will hope to keep dominating the possession and the second half and see if they can extend their lead.
[45] SUBSTITUTION West Brom: Tom Fellows OFF, Josh Shaw ON
[46] SUBSTITUTION Wolves: Dexter Lembikisa OFF, Conor Carty ON
[52] Neither side have really threatened early on here. Wolves appear to be contempt with the lead they have managed to gain and are happy to play the ball round when they have it.
[54] Wolves win the ball back deep in the West Brom half. It’s number eight, Pascal Estrada, who finds Campbell in a pocket of space. HIs shot drags well wide of the post.
[57] EXCELLENT SAVE! Brilliant from Alex Palmer here as Owen Hesketh is given way too much time by the West Brom defenders. He strikes from distance but it is matched by a strong hand from Palmer who pushes aside for a corner.
[63] YELLOW CARD! It’s wolves who pick up the first card of the day due to a flying challenge from Estrada. He misses man and ball however, the referee deemed the challenge reckless and he goes into the book.
[65] GOAL WEST BROM! (KENNETH ZOHORE) We have an equaliser and it’s from the veteran on the field. Number fourteen, Josh Shaw, finds himself with the ball out wide. He gets away from his man and swings a ball into the box, Zohore leaves his man behind and, unmarked, latches onto the cross with his head. Wolves keeper, Louie Moulden, gets something on the shot however, it is not enough and it slowly trickles in.
[69] YELLOW CARD! Wolves are wracking up the cards here with some reckless challenges, really showing the passion of the derby. Hesketh flies in on a loose ball however this time there is contact and he is booked for his actions.
[72] RED CARD! Well hasn’t this escalated quickly. It’s the goalscorer Campbell who has to make the walk of shame. He flies in on a West Brom defender who makes his opinion know about how reckless the challenge was, Campbell proceeds to slap the defender in the face and leave the referee no choice but to send him off. Disappointing end to an excellent game for the number eleven.
[76] SUBSTITUTION West Brom: Alex Williams OFF, Reece Hall ON.
[83] YELLOW CARD! West Brom have picked up a booking here as Toby King decided to go for a dive into the Wolves area. The referee was never falling for that one and King is booked for simulation.
[86] SUBSTITUTION Wolves: Oliver Tipton OFF, Jack Scott ON.
[90] YELLOW CARD! West Brom’s Ethan Ingram is next to go into the referees book here as he clips the back of Estrada’s hells as he begins to break.
5 minutes added time
[90+4] WOLVES ALMOST WIN IT! Can you get any closer? It’s number ten, Estrada, who picks up the ball deep in his own half and decided to drive with it. He beats multiple players, leaving West Brom defenders in his wake. He works his way into the opposing box and cracks a shot with his left down low. His shot takes a slight deflection and he can only watch in despair as it skims past the post. The corner results in nothing.
FULL-TIME: Wolverhampton Wanderers U23 1-1 West Bromwich Albion U23
And that is all here! The Black Country derby is over and both sides have to settle for a point. Even with ten men, Wolves did not sit back and try and deal with pressure. They took the game to West Brom, almost winning it in the dying moments. That red card puts a sour note on what was a decent performance from the home side. Nonetheless, a draw is a fair result here and both sides should be happy to come away with something.
Thank you for reading along and I hope you enjoyed the game as much as I did! Have a good evening.
