U18 Preview: Reading vs Saints
Southampton’s youngsters are on the road again this week, facing Reading in the Under-18s Premier League on Tuesday afternoon.
Reading vs Saints
Under-18 Premier League
Bearwood Park Training Ground
Tuesday 27th April, 12pm BST
It was a difficult afternoon at Staplewood Campus on Saturday for Saints, who fell foul to a clinical West Brom side.
Layton Love gave the Baggies the lead on 13 minutes, before Reyes Cleary added to his assist for the first with a goal of his own from the penalty spot just shy of the half hour mark.
Luke Pearce offered Saints an avenue into the game with his 56th minute goal which typified their much improved second half performance.
But the points were confirmed for the visitors just three minutes later, as Cleary grabbed his second of the game on the break.
Tuesday’s hosts will also be looking to bounce back on Tuesday, after a 5-1 defeat to second placed Fulham on Friday.
The Cottagers opened the scoring in the first minute through Kieron Bowie before adding a second half an hour later thanks to Oliver O’Neill.
Reading responded with a goal of their own thanks to Jahmari Clarke, but from there Fulham turned the screw, notching further strikes via Matthew Dibley-Dias, Idris Odutayo and another from Clarke.
Three points on Tuesday for Saints would put them just a point behind Leicester City, whilst a win for Reading could see them close the gap on West Ham in tenth to two points.
Tuesday afternoon’s game against Reading is the first the two sides have met this season, with the home game coming next week.
The last clash between the two sides eventually ended up being the final match of the curtailed 2019/20 season.
Caleb Watts, Kegs Chauke, Kazeem Olaigbe and Allan Tchaptchet were amongst those who started for Saints at Staplewood just over a year ago.
The breakthrough came on 52 minutes, half-time substitute Jayden Smith latching onto Olaigbe’s through ball before sliding his finish under an onrushing James Holden.
