Loughborough University Football Stadium

Monday 3rd April 2023 - 19:00
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Reyes Cleary in action at The Hawthorns during Albion v Chesterfield

Reyes Cleary is hoping to use his recent Young Lions call-up to help Albion’s PL2 side “kick on” during the final stage of the season - starting with their trip to Derby County on Monday evening (ko 7pm).

Away matches always provide difficult tests for visiting teams, but Richard Beale’s men have fared well on their travels this term - winning four, drawing three and losing just once in eight games on opposition turf.

One more goal will take Cleary’s tally to 20 goals for the campaign in all competitions, and the striker is hoping to take “pressure” off his team-mates by finding the net against the Rams to help the young Baggies to an important three points in their Play-Off push.

Ahead Monday's trip to the Loughborough University Stadium, Cleary said: “It was a good experience getting on the pitch and playing with the best players in the country for my age group.

“Just playing a different level of football makes me a better player when I come back to Albion. When you play for England, you keep the ball a lot and I felt that helped my link-up play so I’m looking to kick on with that and be more confident on the ball.

Reyes Cleary in action for England

“I always get excited before game days now.

“Knowing I’m going to have opportunities to score is great and doing that just takes the pressure off the team.

“Even in training when I score a goal, I’ll celebrate because I love scoring and it comes naturally to me, but I know I have to keep practicing it day in, day out to continue it.

“When I was a second-year scholar last season, I jumped up to the 21s and I was scoring goals there and that gave me a boost. As a result of that, I feel I’ve been able to take control of games this year.

“I just need more experience with men’s football now because doing it against them is the next main aim for me.

“The ability to do it Saturday-Tuesday is important because there’s a lot of games and playing with that high intensity regularly is something I need to master going forwards.

“We treat every team as a top team in our league and we know there’s never any easy games, which is why we always put 100 per cent into everything we do.

“Fans are on our side at home, but away from home they’re against us and that makes us want to win even more.

“We want three points from every game and the last league match was a tough one to take, but the lads are looking to take the win from the Birmingham Senior Cup into this one and we’re ready for it.”

Mo Faal scores v Derby PL2

Albion’s PL2 side romped to an impressive win over Derby County on Monday night.

Reyes Cleary marked his return to the side following his maiden call-up to England’s U19s with a hat-trick, and Mo Faal’s double either side of half-time ensured the points headed back to the Black Country.

Club captain Jake Livermore and first-team defender Kyle Bartley both started the young Baggies' Premier League 2 clash to gain important match fitness.

Photo Credit | Andy Clarke

Richard Beale’s men asserted their dominance from the off when Faal converted after just two minutes, peeling away from his man to control a through ball before rounding the keeper and squeezing home.

Things should’ve improved and the Gambian could’ve had a hat-trick within the opening five minutes, but his second netted effort was ruled out for offside, and Derby keeper Luke McGee was reactive to stop another strike from Albion’s towering forward.

Derby did create chances of their own as the young Baggies conceded possession cheaply in the middle of the park, but former Rams shot-stopper Brad Foster was equal to their attempts - parrying them to safety to preserve his side’s slender lead.

A second goal looked like it would elude Albion as half-time drew closer. Still, there was no stopping a rampant Cleary from bagging his 17th goal of the campaign across PL youth competitions, as he controlled Jovan Malcolm’s centre pass and lashed it into the top corner to give the visitors breathing space.

Akeel Higgins’ introduction during the second 45 helped the away side edge further ahead.

The dangerous forward latched onto Livermore’s lofted through ball and had the presence of mind to look up and see Faal, who found the net for his second and the Baggies’ third of the night.

Mo Faal scores v Derby PL2

Although Osazee Aghatise reduced Albion’s advantage back to a two-goal one when he pounced on some indecision at the back, Beale’s boys would boost their goals tally further on the night.

Cleary’s best of the evening came in the shape of his team's fourth goal - a powerful half-volley which flew into the top corner past McGee - and the striker struck his second hat-trick of the campaign minutes later.

As Albion’s youngsters pressed County’s backline back further, Reyes found space to fire on target. Despite his initial shot coming back off the post, the striker was on his toes to tap in the rebound, rounding off a good night’s work in Loughborough and strengthening Albion’s promotion chase in PL2 Division 2.

Albion: Foster; Ingram (Harper-Bailey 46), Bartley (Nguepissi 46), Hall, Humphries; Livermore (Wangusi 75), Andrews ©️ (M.Richards 46), R.Richards; Malcolm (Higgins 46), Cleary, Faal.

Substitutes