U23s – Reading Join Wolves On The Beaten Pile

I’m not sure who’s taking inspiration from who of late, the senior side or Aston Villa’s Under 23s as they helped themselves to another victory over Reading yesterday evening.

Having stuffed Wolverhampton Wanderers six one at Under 23 level (a first team omen maybe given a recent four one victory), Kevin MacDonald’s young charges backed that up with victory over Ipswich Town in the Premier League Cup, but Monday saw us return to PL2 action with a clash against Reading at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium.

Reading took the lead eight minutes in, but fortune favours the brave and with a brace of own goals from the visitors either side of the half time break, we had advantage. An advantage improved upon by Rushian Hepburn-Murphy who made it three one with 20 minutes remaining in the game.

That was how the scoring ended in a largely comfortable victory that could’ve seen a greater margin as the woodwork protected a greater win.

Callum O’Hare wore the armband in a very young team selection with notable names missing – but that’s most likely down to the fact Monday began a run of three games in five days for our youngsters.

We now travel to Sheffield United on Wednesday to close out our Premier League Cup group (we have already qualified through to the next stage) and on Friday we play our Premier League Cup knockout fixture at Villa Park against title challengers Blackburn Rovers.

In terms of the PL2 competition, we have now cut their lead down to a point but I believe they have a game in hand on us after their match was postponed yesterday owing to a waterlogged pitch.

So all to fight for – much like our seniors!

Aston Villa:

Sarkic, Bazeley-Graham (Walker 45), Clark, Finnerty, Bedeau, Clarke, O’Hare, Prosser, Hepburn-Murphy, Doyle-Hayes, Cox (Brunt 80).

Subs:

Watkins, Odutayo, Sea.

Goals – Driscoll (og 39), Howe (og 65), Hepburn-Murphy (70).

Reading:

Driscoll, Howe, Adimayo, Balogun (Coleman 64), Green, East, Rollinson (Wilson 80), Shokunbi, Mendes (Nolan 45), Frost, House.

Subs:

Rosario, Omolabi, Wilson.

Yellows – Rollinson.
Goals – Mendes (8).

Referee – Peter Gibbons
Assistant Referees – Richard Woodward and Dale Baines