U21 Report: Saints 2-0 West Brom

Saints took an early lead in a dominant first half when Cam Bragg smashed home after meeting a cutback from Will Merry.

The lead was then doubled with just six minutes played after half-time when Nick Oyekunle produced a smart finish from inside the area after being set up by opening scorer Bragg.

West Brom had the first shot of the game with eight minutes on the clock when Oliver Bostock cut in from the left and fired a low effort wide of the near post.

Cam Bragg grabbed a goal and an assist (Photo: Craig Hobbs)

It was Saints with all the positive play besides that though and they deservedly took the lead with 18 minutes played when Merry beat his man on the right and cut the ball back for Bragg to smash home into the roof of the net.

The hosts nearly had a second just past the half hour mark when the lively Merry produced another direct piece of dribbling and worked a shooting opportunity for himself, seeing the West Brom goalkeeper deny him with a strong save.

Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh was next to try his luck as Saints continued to look confident – the midfielder bouncing a pass off of Oyekunle and curling an effort wide.

Shortly before half-time, Merry then went closer still to a second when excellent Saints play saw him put in behind on the right, but his subsequent shot was dragged narrowly wide.

With most of the play against them in the first half, West Brom almost equalised early in the second period when Bostock side-footed inches wide.

Nick Oyekunle doubled Saints' lead (Photo: Craig Hobbs)

However, with the game’s next attack, Saints doubled their own advantage when Oyekunle squeezed a low shot across goal and into the far corner.

Both teams knew the next goal would be crucial and after Eseosa Sule had wasted a big opening for West Brom, O’Brien-Whitmarsh went close to a third for Saints when he curled a right-footed effort narrowly wide.

Late pressure from the visitors came to nothing as Saints defended their lead well and secured a fourth game unbeaten in Premier League 2, with Merry striking the post late on as Adam Lallana’s side looked for more goals.

Saints are next in action on Friday 30th January when they travel away to face Chelsea in Premier League 2, with kick off set for 7pm.

Saints: Abbotson, Adjei-Afriyie (Okunola 78'), Dobson-Ventura, Kayi Sanda, Sesay, Bragg (Kakay 69'), Williams, O'Brien-Whitmarsh, Merry, Sillah Dibaga, Oyekunle (Ehibhatiomhan 88').

Unused subs: Moore, Daley.

Goals: Bragg (18'), Oyekunle (51').

Yellow cards: Kayi Sanda.

West Brom: Cisse (Okonkwo 63'), Nelson, Diomande, Williams (Round 63'), Moreland, Bostock (McNeil 63'), Ntege, McDonald, Mandey, Gompe, Sule (Chimeziri 63').

Unused subs: Abudu.

Yellow cards: McDonald, Sule, Diomande, Moreland.