West Bromwich Albion U21 vs Swansea City U21

16th October

Albion Under-21s host Swansea City in their next Premier League Cup match on Thursday evening (ko 7pm).

It will be the young Baggies’ second match in Group C, and they will be looking to continue their unbeaten start in the competition.

A photo of Albion U21s midfielder Souleyman Mandey after scoring in a PL Cup match v Southampton — Souleyman Mandey scored in the last round of the competition

Last time out

Souleyman Mandey’s spectacular strike helped secure a point against Southampton during the last PL Cup clash.

Cole Deeming had given Richard Beale’s team the lead on the night, but two goals from the visitors meant Albion were trailing heading into the closing stages - with Mandey’s intervention proving crucial to claiming a share of the spoils late on in the tie.

Equalising in 𝓼𝓽𝔂𝓵𝓮. 😮‍💨

Tune into the full highlights from our youngsters' #PLCup draw with Southampton here! 👇
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) September 14, 2024

Venue

Once again, the club’s academy hopefuls will be playing under the Hawthorns lights on Thursday night.

It will be their second consecutive home match at the Baggies’ first team stadium following their previous Premier League 2 encounter with the Saints - which ended 1-1 in B71.

A general view of The Hawthorns at night — Albion's youngsters will play under the lights at The Hawthorns

Pre-match thoughts

Defender Deago Nelson wants to see Albion dictate proceedings when they welcome their South Wales opponents to The Hawthorns.

The flying full-back has featured in all of the 21s’ matches across the PL2, PL Cup and National League Cup competitions this term, showing his versatility down the right side as a defender and a winger.

More importantly for Deago, though, and for many of his academy team-mates, the 18-year-old made his senior bow for the Baggies earlier in the campaign - stepping off the bench against Fleetwood Town during the Carabao Cup defeat in August.

Fulfilling a lifelong dream, in addition to bringing on his game in the PL2 team, has meant a lot to Nelson during the early knockings of the campaign, but as far as the 21s are concerned, recording a first PL Cup group win is the next target for the squad.

The chance to do so comes at a venue which makes the right-sided defender “hungry for more” experiences in the Baggies first team, and Deago says he’s going to do everything he can to win “the battle” in B71 against the Swans.

A photo of U21s defender Deago Nelson in action at The Hawthorns — Nelson is keen to record a first PL Cup win v Swansea

He said: “The start of the season was more of a wake-up call to how competitive the league was going to be this year.

“We took it as a good lesson, moved forward, worked hard in training and got rid of what we did wrong to put us in a good place. We’ve shown character, personality, we nicked a win at Chelsea and that was a big turning point.

“I feel the experience I got playing in the 21s last season helped me massively. Instead of surviving at this age group, last year has helped me push on and exceed past a level now.

“Even though I was at left-back a lot then, now I’m at right-back and I’ve drifted between playing there and as a winger. It’s helped me understand the game more so now, when I’m in my favoured spot, I can perform at my best level.

“Making my debut was an amazing feeling. I didn’t even know I was in the squad until the day before in training when he (Carlos Corberán) said, ‘this is the squad to travel to the game’, and I was in it and my face just lit up.

"I was so happy and the next day, I didn’t even think I would come on. I thought I was making up the numbers but when I saw there was five minutes to go, and he told me to go and warm up, my face lit up again.

A photo of Albion u21 defender Degas Nelson in the 2024/25 yellow away kit — Deago made his senior bow for the club v Fleetwood Town

“We’re in the PL Cup for the next game, and we know it is competitive in its own way.

“There’s different teams, styles, and I’d say it’s more of a mental challenge in this competition because you might play well against a Category One team one week, but then you could play a PDL side and not get a good result.

“So it’s about getting our heads and mindsets right to go and get a good result on Thursday. We want to dominate the game and win it. If we get three points, it’ll put us in a good position to achieve our first aim in the competition, which is to qualify from the group.

“Walking into The Hawthorns is always inspiring. You want to go out on the pitch and make sure that’s the stage you get to in the future.

A photo of U21s defender Deago Nelson in the 2024/25 home kit — Nelson is looking forward to playing at the first team stadium again

“When you play in the academy, you aspire to be in the first team so playing at The Hawthorns is a little taste of that and it only makes you hungry for more.

“Not being the tallest on the pitch has been a challenge, but that’s also made me grow smarter as a player and be more hard-working because I never wanted it to be a factor in why I didn’t make it to where I wanted to get to.

“I want to make it to the top and if I’m going to get there, I have to look past it to show people my capability and potential.

"It’s never been an issue. I’ve always been determined and I’ve always had that fight in me so no matter how big you are, if you’re playing on my side, I’m going to do everything I can to win the battle.”

A photo of Albion U21 defender Deago Nelson in the 2024/25 home kit — Nelson at The Hawthorns during the last home match v Southampton

How to follow

Match tickets will be available for Thursday night’s Premier League Cup group game versus Swansea.

They are priced at £4 adults, and £2 for Under-17s and 65+, with supporters able to purchase tickets on the gate on the Halfords Lane side of the stadium.

As usual, free entry for season ticket holders is not available for any of this year's PL Cup matches.

Alternatively, WBA TV+ subscribers will be able to watch a live stream of the game here from 6.50pm. To view the stream, fans will need a MyAlbion account, which can be created here.

Supporters can keep up-to-date with Thursday’s PL Cup match across the club’s social media channels, with half-time, full-time, and goal updates as they go in.

17th October

Albion's second Group C clash in the Premier League Cup ended in a cruel 2-1 defeat against Swansea City at The Hawthorns on Thursday night.

Ollie Bostock equalised for the hosts with 15 minutes remaining after an unfortunate Ben Cisse own goal had handed the Welsh side a slender advantage at the break.

The Baggies had the lions' share of possession and chances, but were hit with a deadly blow in second-half stoppage time when Aimar Govea won it - tapping into an empty net having initially hit the post.

The setback leaves the club's young hopefuls on one point from two matches.

Ollie Bostock celebrates scoring against Swansea at The Hawthorns in the PL Cup — Ollie Bostock scored in Albion's frustrating defeat

The hosts had the first opportunity of the night. Harry Whitwell made a powerful drive into the penalty area inside the opening ten minutes and unleashed an effort at goal, however Swansea goalkeeper Ben Hughes made a smart save down low to his left to deny the midfielder.

Less than 120 seconds later, the ball was in Albion's net. A surge forward on the left wing from Govea resulted in his cross being headed against the post by Baggies skipper Muhamed Diomande, only for it to then hit stopper Ben Cisse and trickle into the corner.

Richard Beale's boys controlled proceedings after that moment of misfortune and created plenty of chances to draw level before the break.

Fenton Heard and Deago Nelson both saw strikes from the edge of the area fly just over the bar, while Nelson and Cole Deeming had long-range shots blocked by Swansea's defence.

Bostock's teasing cross was also nodded over by Heard from 12 yards in what proved to be Albion's final opportunity of the first 45.

Eseosa Sule in action for Albion in the PL Cup against Swansea in the home kit — Eseosa Sule in action during the opening period

The lads wearing navy blue and white stripes started strongly after the break and almost equalised when forward Eseosa Sule's deflected shot from the right side of the box struck the outside of post and went behind for a corner.

Whitwell then had two chances to score just minutes after the hour mark. Heard's clever free-kick slipped the 18-year-old in behind, only for Harry to be thwarted by Hughes between the sticks, before volleying wide after Swansea had failed to clear their lines.

Bostock was next to try his luck, forcing the Swans stopper into a save down low. Moments later, Heard headed straight at the No.1 following an eye-catching cross from the left from Whitwell.

The pressure finally told thought with 15 minutes remaining. The Baggies broke through the middle of the pitch and Whitwell found Wales youth international Bostock free on the left side of the penalty area. The winger wasted no time, slamming home into the far corner at the first time of asking to make it 1-1.

Albion were doing all the attacking, but left themselves a little short at the back in the final stages of added time. The ball broke kindly for Govea and after seeing his first attempt come back of the post, the No.7 was on hand to stroke into the middle of the unguarded net.

ALBION: Cisse, Nelson, Diomande (C), Shaw, Frabotta (Parker 58), Iddrisa (Richards 58), Deeming, Whitwell, Heard (Higgins 76), Sule (Chimeziri 58), Bostock.

Unused subs: Wallis.

Check out the WBA TV highlights from the clash below.

Thursday 17th October 2024 - 19:00