Aston Villa’s Under 23 side were in action on Monday afternoon as we faced West Bromwich Albion in Premier League 2 action at the home of Kidderminster Harriers.
The game ended 1-1 apiece with Jordan Cox getting our leveller after West Brom had gone ahead through Hal Robson-Kanu. That wasn’t the talking point from the game though.
The Baggies went incredibly experienced for the game whereas we went in the opposite direction.
Matija Sarkic, Jake Walker, Callum Rowe, Alex Prosser, Ethan Patterson, Dominic Revan, Jordan Cox, Lewis Brunt, Harvey Knibbs, Jacob Ramsey, Colin Odutayo.
Subs – Sam Lomex, Luke Ige, Harrison Sohna, Indiana Vassilev, Aaron Pressley.
Regular followers of the second string will know some of those names, others are completely new to me as we drafted in a number of Under 18s.
For those curious, this was the lineup from the opposition.
Jonathan Bond, Ferguson, Kyle Howkins, Sam Field, Tyrone Mears, Kyle Edwards, Wes Hoolahan, Rakeem Harper, Jonathan Leko, Oliver Burke, Hal Robson-Kanu.
Subs – Keranovic, Meredith, Wilding, Clayton-Phillips, Morton.
I’ve given first names to those players I’m aware of and they still couldn’t take victory!
Coming back to us, a number of regulars were missing.
Callum O’Hare, Jake Doyle-Hayes, Jacob Bedeau and Corey Blackett-Taylor stand out the most I think, but Isaiah Bazerley-Graham is another one.
I’m suggesting for a second that they have all been drafted into the first team for Friday’s clash, and I have no idea if there has been an illness sweep through the camp, or a spate of injuries that took them out of contention – but it’s certainly a line of thought as head coach Dean Smith looks for further improvement.
He’s had three games with the seniors and whilst he talks about seeing progress, he’s also seen the worst of us – so is the game he looks at additional options as if he does, the first four above in particular would be the ones he’d go to I think – added to James Bree – with others out on loan.
