Five star EDS topple West Brom in sixth straight victory

Manchester City F.C.

·26 October 2024

Five star EDS topple West Brom in sixth straight victory

City’s Elite Development Squad showcased a commanding second-half performance to see off West Brom 5-0 and return to the top of the Premier League 2 table.

After a goalless first-half, Ben Wilkinson’s side blew West Brom away in what was a dominant display.

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Charlie Gray handed City’s EDS the lead with a first time finish before Farid Alfa-Ruprecht got onto the end of Emilo Lawrence’s cross.

Jaden Heskey extended our advantage with a close range shot, and five minutes later in a goal created and scored by our full backs, Seb Naylor picked out Lakyle Samuel who tapped in.

A fine afternoon’s work was capped off by Will Dickson who slid in to seal the three points and extend our winning run to six successive matches.

WHAT HAPPENED

After Brighton won during Friday night’s fixtures, it gave Ben Wilkinson’s EDS side an incentive to record a sixth straight victory and claim the three points to return to the top of the league.

It was a dominant start from City who were passing the ball in sequences and trying to break down a very resilient West Brom side who were happy to see the visitors have possession.

Will Dickson stretched out a leg to intercept the ball deep in the Baggies half, before Jacob Wright claimed the loose ball and set himself before picking out Emilio Lawrence on the left. The winger drove into the 18-yard box with some excellent foot work to evade his defender, but his left-footed shot was saved by Joe Wallis.

We threatened again after Josh Wilson-Esbrand received the ball from a corner kick and his shot from outside the penalty area fizzed past Wallis’ far post.

The hosts earned their first opportunity through Oliver Bostock, who picked out Dan Chimeziri with a cross in a cluster of bodies, but the striker got underneath the ball and headed over.

The West Midlands outfit came close to opening the scoring again as Wright lost the ball to Idrissa Dauda Amihere, who played a give-and-go with Chimeziri, but his shot was bravely blocked by Will Dickson who tracked back.

City ended the half strongest after Farid Alfa-Ruprecht picked up the ball, following Charlie Gray's interception, and played it through to Lawrence, but his shot didn’t worry Wallis, as he fired straight at the Baggies keeper.

In the second period, Ben Wilkinson’s side continued where they left off and seven minutes after the restart, City broke the deadlock.

Alfa-Ruprecht showed excellent skill to turn his defender on the right, before he laid the ball off to Gray and his first time, low shot fired past Wallis to give the visitors the advantage.

City kept on pushing, and a neat, over the shoulder layoff by Dickson allowed Jaden Heskey to break West Brom’s defensive line and run through one-on-one with Wallis, but the keeper made himself big to deny Heskey.

The hosts nearly drew level, after Bostock found Gianluca Frabotta from a routine set piece, but his header flew straight into Whatmuff’s palms.

From one end of the pitch to the other, Gray found Lawrence, and played through a low ball with pace from City’s left, and the oncoming Alfa-Ruprecht reached the ball to tap in the second of the afternoon.

Albion responded with a long, direct ball that wasn’t dealt with by the City defence, as Bostock steamed through before his attempt was saved low by Whatmuff to retain his clean sheet.

After a neat passing sequence through the midfield, Samuel squared a ball to Heskey, who was alone in the box, to poke in and add a third.

It felt that a fourth goal was imminent, as Lawrence found the overlapping Seb Naylor and the half-time substitute spotted his fellow full back, Samuel, at the far post and he guided the ball into the back of the net.

And a magnificent display was capped off with a fifth goal, as Justin Oboavwoduo had the ball on the right and crossed into Dickson, who slid in to direct the ball past Wallis.

HOW WE LINED UP

Oliver Whatmuff started in between the posts for City, with a back four of Lakyle Samuel, Max Alleyne, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Josh Wilson-Esbrand protecting him.

Captain, Jacob Wright, played as the holding midfielder with Jaden Heskey and Charlie Gray forming the midfield trio.

Will Dickson led the attacking line, with Farid Alfa-Ruprecht and Emilio Lawrence playing on either wing.

WEST BROM XI: Wallis, Nelson, Frabotta, Dauda Amihere, Diomande, Parker, Williams (92’ Walker), Deeming, Chimeziri (78’ Sule), Heard (92’ Kirton), Bostock

Subs: Cisse, Humphries

CITY XI: Whatmuff, Samuel, Alleyne, Simpson-Pusey, Wilson-Esbrand (46’ Naylor), Wright (C), Alfa-Ruprecht (76’ Oboavwoduo), Heskey (76’ Okeke), Dickson, Gray, Lawrence

Subs: Henderson-Hall