Albion Under-21s will be targeting more positive momentum when they travel to Chelsea in their next Premier League 2 match on Saturday afternoon (ko 2.30pm).
Recent results in both the league and PL Cup have seen Richard Beale’s team react to their slow start to the campaign by going two games unbeaten in all competitions - a run they’ll be looking to stretch to three this weekend.
Last time out
In their most recent PL2 game, the young Baggies beat Stoke City 5-0 at The West Bromwich Albion Training Ground.
With the inclusion of a few first-team players, the 21s produced against the Potters with Devante Cole and Harry Whitwell grabbing braces, and Gianluca Frabotta netting a free-kick to wrap up their first league victory of the campaign.
Venue
Saturday’s PL2 fixture will be played at Kingsmeadow stadium.
It is the home of the Blues’ Women and 21s teams.
Pre-match thoughts
Left-back Josh Shaw is keen to continue his positive reaction to a pre-season setback with another consistent showing against Chelsea.
The defender, who’s been at The Hawthorns since the scholarship phase, learned of a heart condition during pre-season which pushed back his involvement in matches at the start of the 2024/25 season.
It’s a moment in life which has made the 20-year-old take “nothing for granted” during the months which have followed, and after playing his first 90 minutes this term in last week’s PL Cup game, Josh is determined to maintain his recent standards when Albion play the Blues.
“I think a draw was the least we deserved from the last game against Southampton,” he said.
“We dominated large parts of the match and we’re going to take all of the positives from it, and there plenty more of them than negatives in that performance. We have to take that into the next game on Saturday now.
“The start of the season, and especially pre-season was pretty tough for me because I was diagnosed with a heart condition early on in the preparations.
“I had a few weeks off, built back up to playing by training again and I’ve played four or five games now, and I feel the standard of those has been very good.
“I got my first 90 minutes against Southampton and for me, that was a real positive. Mentally, I’m not taking things for granted anymore and this news has made me appreciate more what the club provide me and it gives you a different outlook on things completely.
“When you get told you may not be able to play football again, you do think you can’t take anything for granted anymore.
“We know Chelsea are a good side and any game in this league, no matter what badge you come up against, is winnable.
“If we can replicate what went wrong against Saints and tweak those mistakes, then I’m sure the lads will give it a good go and try and get a positive result this weekend.”
How to follow
Owing to a first-team fixture being played on the same day, we will be unable to provide live coverage of Saturday’s match between the U21s and Chelsea.
The full report and reaction to the game will be available on the club website over the weekend.
