Club News

Blackburn U21s 2 Albion U21s 0

Downing left ruing Baggies' lack of creativity

TWO second-half goals put paid to the visitors’ hopes of securing a third successive win in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League at Leigh Sports Village.

After a tight first-half, Blackburn hit Albion on the counter-attack in the 50th minute and Osayamen Osawe broke the deadlock after being released by Hugo Fernandez.

A second goal from Curtis Haley in the final minute ended the Baggies’ hopes of nicking a point.

Joint-assistant head coach Keith Downing was left ruing Albion’s lack of creativity.

“It was a tight game with few chances at both ends,” he said.

“In the first half, we looked pretty solid defensively.

“Blackburn were very good at pressing the ball and there was little room in midfield. We couldn’t find the quality to unlock them.

“We actually started the second half quite brightly but got caught out with a counter-attack goal.

“The game then became very open. It was end to end and no-one really had control.

“Then, towards the end, when we a little bit more offensive in trying to grab an equaliser, we left ourselves a bit more exposed and they got a second, which was a little bit harsh on us.

“On reflection, I don’t think we did enough with the ball in the final third to win it. We didn’t really have a threat.”

Liam O’Neil was taken off as a precaution early in the second half after suffering a bang to the head towards the end of the first 45.

ALBION (from): Lewis; O’Neil (Atkinson), D Daniels, Gayle, Garmston; I Brown (Birch), Mantom, Thorne, O’Sullivan (A Jones); Sawyers, A Nabi. Subs not used: Pace, Palmer.