Albion Under-21s are eyeing a second Premier League 2 win on the bounce when they welcome Derby County on Monday evening (ko 7pm).
The young Baggies appear to have turned a corner in recent weeks, particularly on the goalscoring front, having scored six strikes in their last two matches.
Visitors, the Rams, are the only team in PL2 ranked below Leigh Downing’s hopefuls having collected one point less (eight) from 14 matches.
Last time out
It was a series of late heroics which ensured Albion’s win over Blackburn Rovers last week.
Captain Muhamed Diomande opened the scoring, but the visitors bagged two first-half efforts, leaving late strikes from Hindolo Mustapha and Harry Whitwell to settle the contest.
Venue
The U21s are back at Damson Park this week, just a week on from their last win there.
Pre-match thoughts
Defender Abdul Abudu has enjoyed a fruitful beginning to life with the Under-21s side.
Having featured in four of the youngsters’ last five matches, the 17-year-old has shown himself to be a capable defender for the level - despite playing above his age group.
The young centre-half joined as an U15 after demonstrating the physical attributes necessary to halt attackers in their tracks across the defensive third, and he's now focused on earning further minutes with Downing’s group as they reach the tail end of the campaign.
Abudu hopes to feature more in the team and help their main “motivation” of achieving league and cup progression, with the PL2 team also looking forward to quarter-final matches in two competitions (Birmingham County FA Senior Cup & Premier League Cup).
He said: “It was a good achievement for all of us (the win against Blackburn). We were trying hard to get that win we were really striving for.
“Getting the win on Monday gave us a lot of confidence going forwards. We feel we’re in a position to go on a run in the league now and create more positive performances for the rest of the season.
“After showing each other that we can do it, we’re feeling more like a collective rather than individuals. It shows the level we should be at and the level we can try to get to as well.
“I felt the build-up to our attacking play was better than it has been in recent weeks. Everyone was part of it and it felt like we were all together, everyone was involved in it.
“Even down the other end, we were all putting our bodies on the line to try and keep a clean sheet. We didn’t manage to keep one but we grew as a unit throughout the match.
“As a younger player coming into the U21s group, we feel we can look up to some of the more senior figures (the likes of Alex Williams and Harry Whitwell). You see the level you want to get to and how easy they make it look.
“They’re where I aspire to be (in and around the first team). They’re all very comfortable on the ball and read the game so well, it’s something that comes with experience and playing at a higher level.
“My strengths begin with my defensive work; winning the ball back from one-vs-ones, in the air and along the ground.
“In terms of improvement, I probably need to get better on the ball. I think that’s something I can do better between now and the end of the season.
“Having time on the ball is something that’s a lot different compared to the U18s, you have to make the right decisions or you’ll be punished. Being in that environment has helped me a lot with this.
“We’ve got lots of motivation heading into the end of the season. We want to carry on the runs in our cup competitions because we've done so much to get into the quarter-finals we’re in and our league standing can be improved too.
“I want to get as much information and experience as possible and try to get that experience in ready for next year. We’ve showed how well we can play in games against Liverpool and Blackburn, so I can’t see any reason why we can’t bring that into our next match against Derby."
How to follow
Tickets are available for Monday night’s PL2 clash at Damson Park.
Those hoping to secure their ticket for the game can click here. Supporters can also buy tickets on the gate at Damson Park.
They are priced at £4 adults and £2 for Under-17s and 65+, while Albion season ticket holders are able to watch the game for free.
To gain their free access, season ticket holders will need to show an upcoming first-team match ticket on the gate at Damson Park.
Alternatively, WBA TV+ subscribers will be able to watch a live stream of the game here from 6.50pm.
Supporters can also keep up-to-date with Monday’s PL2 match across the club’s social media channels, with half-time, full-time, and goal updates as they go in.
