U21 Report: West Brom 1-1 Saints
Southampton's Under-21s settled for a point at Keys Park as they played out a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion in Premier League 2.
There was nothing to separate the sides at the break, with limited opportunities for either team.
Both sides scored their goals in quick succession as Layton Love’s opener for the hosts was immediately cancelled out by Zach Awe’s first Saints goal as the game ultimately ended level.
Loanee Ussumane Djaló was handed his first start for Saints, in a strong line-up that was bolstered by the return of Tyler Dibling and Sam Amo-Ameyaw from recent first team involvement.
Tyler Dibling returned to the Under-21s side. (Photos: Stuart Martin)
In an evenly-matched opening, it was the hosts who forged the game’s first chance with Josh McNamara tested in the eighth minute.
A low cross found Fenton Heard, who stole a yard at the near post and flicked the ball goalwards only to be denied by McNamara’s diving catch.
Very few clear-cut chances followed as the first half continued; Saints had the better periods of possession but weren’t able to produce many shooting opportunities.
Their first shot on goal came when Djaló intercepted a pass and found Luke Pearce in between the West Brom centre-backs, who in turn teed up Jake Vokins for an attempted lob that was gathered by Ben Cisse in goal.
The Baggies then squandered perhaps the best chance of the first half when Harry Whitwell robbed Zach Awe of the ball but couldn’t convert when one-on-one with McNamara who did well to save.
Awe almost made amends minutes later as he rose to meet a Cam Bragg corner but headed over at the back post.
Sam Amo-Ameyaw in action.
The game seemed destined to remain goalless at the break as McNamara comfortably gathered another Whitwell chance just after the half hour mark.
A trademark driving Dibling run saw him play the ball wide to Amo-Ameyaw, whose angled shot was deflected just behind the run of Pearce in the area.
Amo-Ameyaw tried his luck once more before the interval with a curling shot from the edge of the box, which came to no avail with the scores were locked at half time.
It was Amo-Ameyaw who again gave the hosts trouble with the first chance of the second half.
After being picked out by Vokins’ switch of play, Saints’ tricky winger cut inside and struck the post with a curling shot before Djaló blazed the rebound over as Saints resumed the game with purpose.
However, arguably against the run of play, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock when Love flung himself to meet a cross and head home the opening goal.
The Baggies didn’t lead for long though, as Awe responded with Saints’ equaliser as he rose high to nod home a rebounded ball from almost on the goalline after an initial shot from Vokins was impressively kept out.
Awe rises high to equalise.
Saints almost turned the scores around within minutes of their equaliser as Amo-Ameyaw found substitute Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh with a low cross, but the Irishman’s shot was straight at the goalkeeper.
McNamara, who had little to do in the second period, remained alert to make a strong save with his feet at the near post to deny substitute Eseosa Sule.
In the first minute of stoppage time, the Baggies somehow missed a winner as a corner reached the far post where a shot flashed across a goal without a decisive touch.
The scores ended level at Keys Park, as Adam Asghar’s side settled for a point to take back to Hampshire.
West Brom: Cisse, Nelson, Hall (captain) (Deeming 60), Harper-Bailey (Richards 46), Phillips, Heard, Mfuamba, Love, Whitwell (Sule 80), Bostock (Higgins 66).
Subs not used: Foster.
Goals: Love 63.
Yellow Cards: Nelson 49.
Saints: McNamara, Davis, Awe, Lawrence, Meghoma, Bragg (captain), Amo-Ameyaw, Dibling (O’Brien-Whitmarsh 66), Pearce, Djaló, Vokins.
Subs not used: Upstell, Armitage, Carson, Ehibhatiomhan.
Goals: Awe 65.
