U18 Preview: Saints vs Chelsea

Saints vs Chelsea

Under-18 Premier League

Snows Stadium

Saturday 27th March, 11am

After FA Youth Cup disappointment in mid-week, Saints will be relieved to see an opportunity to redeem themselves only falls four days after.

Last-time-out in domestic action Saints fell to a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa, with Taylor Jay-Har and Travis Patterson getting the visitors’ goals.

Sixth placed Chelsea faced a tricky away trip at Leicester last week, who are also looking for survival like Saints.

The Foxes looked to be heading for a valuable three points at 2-1 with the game headed into stoppage time, before Chelsea’s Myles Peart-Harris levelled at the death.

A win for Saints would see them close the gap on 12th placed Leicester to just a point, whilst three points for Chelsea could see them leapfrog Tottenham into the top five.

The two sides played out a well-fought 1-1 draw at Cobham Training Centre back in September.

Chelsea took the lead six minutes before the break, as centre-back Alex Kpakpe scored on his debut following a deep Silko Thomas cross.

But Saints responded well; Marco Rus and Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo amongst the brightest for the visitors.

The latter was then involved in the equaliser, playing Jayden Smith down the right wing whose cross met an unmarked Ryan Finnigan at the far post.