Cardiff City U21 vs West Bromwich Albion U21

6th March

Albion Under-21s will cross over the border to play Cardiff City in their Premier League Cup round of 16 clash on Friday night (ko 7pm).

A mixture of goal difference, results elsewhere, and taking care of their own business saw Richard Beale’s young pros win Group C - as well as their final preliminary match to reach the knockout stages.

However, a team and style relatively unfamiliar to them lie ahead for their next challenge in the competition, as they look to try and reach the quarter-finals with a win in Wales.

A photo of U21 defender Mo Diomande warming up before a PL2 game — Mo Diomande has been speaking ahead of Friday's PL Cup match

Format

With the tournament now in its knockout phase, the Baggies’ last 16 test could go to extra-time and penalties should the game be level after 90 minutes.

Last time out

Albion U21s comfortably beat Fleetwood Town 3-0 at Damson Park stadium in their previous PL Cup outing.

Eseosa Sule, Souleyman Mandey and Michael Parker all found the back of net to help the Black Country academy hopefuls win just their second match of the tournament.

Cool and composed on our way to the #PLCup knockout stages. 🏆

Watch the full highlights from our youngsters' success against Fleetwood Town on Friday night here! 👇
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) February 2, 2025

Venue

The club’s youngsters travel to the Cardiff International Sports Stadium for their knockout meeting with the Bluebirds.

An arena which City’s academy sides regularly use for their youth team matches, the venue lies within the Leckwith development - with only the B427 road separating it from the Championship outfit’s first-team ground on the other side.

Pre-match thoughts

A range of emotions is the best way to sum up what summer addition Muhamed Diomande has experienced during his first term with the Baggies.

Having switched Black County rivals Wolves for the Albion in 2024, it was a fresh start for ‘Mo’ with the backing of the club’s youth staff fully behind him following an impressive trial towards the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Inevitably, the centre-back was a regular starter under Beale at the beginning of the 24/25 season, but a few losses in concentration has seen the Italian-born defender receive two red cards which, on accumulation, resulted in him missing the end of last year through suspension.

A photo of Albion u21 defender Mo Diomande in the yellow and blue 2024/25 kit — Diomande picked up a red card against Southampton during his last PL Cup away game

Regardless of those rash moments, Diomande’s defensive abilities can’t be understated when taking into account the number of solid displays, last-ditch tackles, and crucial interventions he’s made to help his academy colleagues get out of trouble in matches.

And he’s determined to lay his body on the line again in Friday’s PL Cup last 16 tie, putting lessons learned into practice and playing the occasion in a bid to help the Baggies’ PL2 team reach the quarter-finals with victory against Cardiff.

“I’m very excited and ready for the game on Friday and I know the lads feel the same,” said Diomande.

“We’re confident for whatever sort of game this cup tie turns into and I wouldn’t say we’ve been lucky to get to this stage either.

“It’s been down to the hard work we’ve been putting in on and off the pitch, along with all the support from our coaching team.

A photo of Albion u21 defender Mo Diomande in the 2024/25 home kit — Mo has started five of the last six PL youth games for Albion

“I’ve had some difficult moments this season, one of them being that short time I had away.

“But I felt I needed it and it definitely gave me time to reflect on my actions. Everyone makes mistakes, but the important thing is to learn from them and I feel like I have.

“The most important lesson I’ve taken away from my time out of the team is to stay focused for the whole 90 minutes and not to let any other players' actions on the pitch affect my own headspace.

“That’s certainly showed in the games I’ve played since and this next one against Cardiff will be a challenging one.

Albion U21 defender Mo Diomande in action against Wolves — Diomande in action versus his old employers Wolves. Photo credit | Gareth Evans Photography

“No team should be underestimated, but I believe in the boys here and the football we’ve been playing because that’s how we’ve reached the last 16 of this tournament.

“We’re going to continue playing this style of football, along with our confidence and belief which will, hopefully, carry us further into this competition.

“Belief is a massive thing for me. The boys have been putting in the extras, at the gym and on the training field to prepare ourselves for this important PL Cup match, and we will fight to get as far as possible.”

How to follow

Friday's PL Cup knockout match will be free for all supporters who attend the encounter at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium.

Similarly, the Bluebirds will be providing a live stream of the game on their YouTube channel. Click here to tune in from 6.50pm onwards.

There will be live updates across our social media channels for Albion U21s' clash with Cardiff City.

The full report, reaction and highlights from the match will be available on the website post-match.

7th March

Albion Under-21s went through to the quarter-finals of the Premier League Cup after Divine Onyemachi won them a penalty shootout against Cardiff City on Friday night.

Tan Nyakuhwa started the scoring in the contest but for the second time in a week, Archie Kirton stepped off the bench to level matters and send the match to extra-time and, later, spot-kicks at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium.

Ultimately, Onyemachi would be the match-winner, slotting in the decisive kick to help the young Baggies march on in the competition.

A photo of Albion U18 attacker Divine Onyemachi in the 2024/25 yellow kit — Divine Onyemachi notched the winning penalty on the night for Albion. Photo: Megan Lockie-Monk

Spritely attacker Akeel Higgins led the line on the night in the absence of usual target man Eseosa Sule, who missed out due to a minor injury.

He almost warranted his starting berth up front within the first minute, working space inside the box to connect with Alex Williams’ right-wing cross - only for the crossbar to keep out his headed attempt.

Richard Beale’s boys were made to rue their early missed opportunity, too. Roll on City’s first chance of the game and they used it to great effect - Nyakuhwa battling into the box down the left far too easily, before firing through goalkeeper Joe Wallis at his near post.

In truth, it was a slow half after the opener on four minutes with neither side showing the necessary quality to level the match or extend their advantage, in Cardiff’s case. Higgins had the best moment, again, but got his foot under the ball inside the area, lofting a shot over the target from a promising position.

Albion in action against Cardiff. (Photo: Megan Lockie-Monk) — Photo: Megan Lockie-Monk

Down at the break, but the young Baggies improved in the attacking third after the restart. Substitute Donte-German Ranger looked to have levelled matters when he squeezed Harry Whitwell’s pass through the home keeper.

Frustratingly, the linesman judged it to have been saved from crossing the line by a City defender - leaving the Welsh outfit in front, and although Ranger fired wide again minutes later, it would be Kirton who had the decisive say on proceedings.

Superb footwork from Whitwell allowed him to slip the sub through inside the eighteen-yard box, who rifled through the shot-stopper to record a deserved equaliser and, more importantly, prolong the match by another 30 minutes.

A photo of Albion U21 winger Archie Kirton in the 2024/25 yellow kit — Archie Kirton was on target again for the young Baggies in Wales. Photo: Megan Lockie-Monk

Extra time brought with it very few clear chances for the visitors to swing the pendulum in their favour.

Jamal Mohammed, who could’ve poked a winner home in normal time, headed a couple of crosses over, while Cardiff stood resolute as they looked for a goal of their own.

In the end, neither could be separated - meaning a penalty shootout was required to decide the victor.

Each team traded four successful strikes before Cody Twose’s effort went just wide of the mark for the Bluebirds, allowing Onyemachi to convert the winning spot-kick and send the Baggies through to the last eight of the PL Cup.

Albion: Wallis, Nelson, Diomande (Kirton 56), Mohammed, Parker, Hall (c), Mandey (Iddrisa 46), Whitwell, Williams, Humphries (Ranger 46), Higgins (Onyemachi 93).

Substitutes: Cisse.

Check out the WBA TV footage from South Wales in the video below!

Friday 7th March 2025 - 19:00