ALBION Under-18s suffered a 4-0 defeat by league leaders Manchester City in their FA Premier Academy League (Group C) clash at the weekend.

And coach Michael Appleton has urged his troops to toughen up ahead of Saturday's trip to Manchester United.

"We need to use Saturday as a bench mark," he said.

"They've won the league for the last two years and you can tell why.

"Not only have they got good players, they play with an intensity you'd expect first-team football to be played at.

"They were probably four goals better than us on the day.

"Our boys certainly played within themselves and didn't enjoy the physical side of things, which is a bit of a concern.

"Not every team is going to allow us to play.

"We've got to win the right to play first."

ALBION (4-4-2): Allsopp; Mason, Pike, Manchester, Hancox; Nichols, Labadie (Bruce 55), Saied (Sawyers 55), Lake-Gaskin; Morrison (Samuels HT), Knight. Subs not used: Carlin (gk).

Women

Hayley Phillipowsky fired a hat-trick as Albion ladies thrashed AlfretonTown 5-0 in the Midland Combination Main League on Sunday to extend their unbeaten run to seven games.

Hayley Moore also got on the scoresheet, with the hosts notching an own goal. 

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