Keys Park

Monday 22nd January 2024 - 19:00
West Brom
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2
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Blackburn
Stream on WBA TV
Key Events

A photo of Albion U18s midfielder Ollie Bostock, wearing the 2023/24 home kit, in action at the club's training ground

First-year scholar Ollie Bostock is keen to gain more exposure in the U21s ahead of their Premier League Cup group game against Blackburn Rovers on Monday evening (ko 7pm).

Richard Beale’s youngsters have seven points heading into their next Group B match at Keys Park, with just two matches remaining in order to secure passage to the knockout stages.

But with Monday’s opponents and Sheffield United both on the same points tally, the Baggies’ young pros will need maximum points if they’re to progress in the competition.

Attacker Bostock has made a good impression during PL2 games recently after making the step up from 18s football, and the 16-year-old is keen to make his mark with a goal contribution against Rovers.

“This is what I’ve wanted to do from the start of the season,” said Bostock.

“Playing 21s football was a goal I’d set and it’s been good to break through and get the exposure I need which will, hopefully, get me closer to the first team in the future.

“The first thing I think when I get the ball is, ‘can I go forward?’.

“Every time I’m on the ball I want to do something positive with it.

“It’s good to add something different to the team and we have different types of players in attack and I think it’s good that we compliment each other with our forward thinking.

A photo of U18s midfielder Ollie Bostock in action, wearing the 2023/24 home kit, at the club's training ground
A photo of U18s attacker Ollie Bostock

“We’ve earned this opportunity because we work hard all the time and we’ve both (Bostock and Cole Deeming) taken our chances when they’ve come.

“Cole’s done well in the games he’s played and it’s important we push on now at this level.

“I’ve been playing well but goals are definitely something I’ll be looking to add into my game even more.

“Monday is, of course, an opportunity to put things right from the West Ham game but also an exciting chance to see what we can do in the PL Cup.

“It’s a different feeling compared with the league games and it’s one where things are often riding on one game and I’m looking forward to that increase in competitiveness against Blackburn.”

How to follow the match

Tickets will be available on the gate at Keys Park for Albion's PL Cup clash against Blackburn on Monday night.

They are priced at £5 adults and £1 concessions.

Free entry for season ticket holders is not available for this fixture.

WBA TV+ subscribers will be able to watch a live stream of the game here from 6.20pm.

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Cole Deeming.

Albion's youngsters put in an accomplished display at Keys Park to claim a 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in the PL Cup on Monday evening.

Second half goals from Cole Deeming and Reece Hall ensured Richard Beale's side a commanding position in the standings heading into the final raft of fixtures in the group stages.

Layton Love produced the first big opportunity of the game within the opening ten minutes, jinking past his man on the edge of the 18-yard box before firing a powerful effort just over the crossbar.

At the other end, Dominik Beniek saw a deflected strike clip the side netting, whilst Ben Cisse was on hand to save smartly from a Charlie Weston effort shortly after.

Albion should have taken the lead in the 23rd minute after Ollie Bostock was played in on goal, but his low strike was well saved by the Rovers shot-stopper to keep the game at 0-0.

The visitors saw Weston find the side netting once more before Albion created another brilliant opportunity to break the deadlock, but Fenton Heard struck the bar after deceiving the Blackburn defence in the area.

Albion were growing in confidence heading into the final five minutes of the first half, but they couldn't find their way past a stubborn back line ahead of the break.

Ben Cisse in action.

Both sides saw speculative penalty shouts waved away with the second half in its infancy, as each looked to open the scoring on the counter.

But it was Albion who would break the deadlock in the 54th minute through Deeming, finding space on the edge of the box before planting his low finish into the bottom corner.

Kevin Mfuamba almost doubled the Baggies' advantage in spectacular style, curling a gorgeous effort toward the top corner, only for Nicholas Michalski to deny him with an outstanding full-stretch save.

Michalski was on hand twice more shortly after, as Deeming and Love forced him into two sprawling saves as the hosts tried to secure the cushion of a second goal.

Deago Nelson was next to threaten, but after breaking the lines in midfield he couldn't test the goalkeeper with his finish, which flew over the bar.

The Baggies' pressure finally told again in the 72nd minute, this time through a set piece. A corner from the right was nodded down in the box, and it was the skipper Hall who forced home at the near post to hand his side a deserved two-goal lead.

Blackburn looked for an instant response, but Cisse rushed out to deny the visitors after a neat move in the area.

Rovers continued to hunt for a way back into the encounter, but the Baggies saw out the final minutes with little fanfare to secure the three points.

The victory lifts Albion atop Group B, needing only a point against fourth-placed Reading in their final group game to secure passage into the knockout stages of the competition.

ALBION: Cisse, Williams, Hall, Kelly (45 Harper-Bailey), Shaw (45 Kirton), Deeming, Mfuamba (70 Mandey), Heard (45 Whitwell), Nelson, Love, Bostock (70 Sule).