The head coach praised a showing which including lots of aspects the players have been working on in training, as Wolves got off to a perfect start to their U18 Premier League North campaign. Chiwome’s finish put the old gold ahead early, but Davis’ young side battled hard to make sure they saw out the game and secured all three points.
On opening day victory
“It was a battle and I don’t think there was a lot between the two teams, if I’m being honest. I thought we edged the first-half in terms of possession and chances; they had a couple of good ones, but we had a couple of good ones as well, including one which was cleared off the line. But they just edged the second-half, pushed us a bit more, but we were able to manage the game really well. I think that was the best part of our second-half.
“Having gone 1-0 up within five minutes, we didn’t need to chase and the game became a bit scrappy at times, there was a lot of stoppages due to the hot weather and there were a few injuries and cramp. We never really got going in the second-half, it was a lot of stop and start, so neither team could gain the momentum, which helped us being ahead, as we could manage the game better.
“We were very professional in how we played, particularly when we were 1-0 up, we stopped them from getting many chances and slowed things down. It was good to see they understanded the situation as we didn’t need to get a second goal, as long as we could keep our organisation and concentration, we could see it out.”
Leon Chiwome got the only goal at Blackburn this afternoon, as our U18s got their league campaign off to a winning start!
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) August 13, 2022
🎓👏 pic.twitter.com/w2bYFBDfRv
On taking the lead early
“It was a really good goal. Owen [Farmer] picked the ball up and played the ball out to Marvin [Kaleta] who whipped the ball across the box and behind their centre-backs, but Leon [Chiwome] had pulled back slightly, took a touch and then guided the ball in off the post.
“It was a great finish and a really well worked goal. I was really pleased with some aspects of the goals because it was based on a lot of the principles we’d been working on.
“But it came early and when you score early, there’s still a long way to go in the game, as hasn’t been something we’d experienced with this group because it was the first time we’d scored early and been in front this season, and with 85 minutes of the game still to go, you’ve got a lot of work to do, but I thought we did it really well.
“Generally, throughout the game, our performance was good, but there’s lots of improvement we can make, but overall, I was really pleased with our first performance.”
On learning to win
“That’s one of the things which shows their progression as footballers. When you’re playing under-16s and younger, the result isn’t as important, but when you get up to under-18s and 21s, the result becomes important, so you need an understanding of how to win, finding solutions to win and ways of winning when you’re behind and staying in front when you get ahead.
“It’s about learning that side of the game, which is a really important facet, especially for young players, because ultimately that is the most important thing going forward for them; learning how to win matches.”
On blooding the young players
“We had quite a few young ones in the team at the weekend, including Caden Voice, a left-sided centre-back, and Fraser Harper, who played in midfield with Temple [Ojinnaka]. They are both schoolboys and I thought the played really well, as did the second-years in giving us that little bit of physicality and know-how, and the first-years were all consistent in what they did.
“I was pleased with everyone, but even more pleased with the young boys who were coming through their first games in the league, while giving away two or three years in many aspects to some of their players. But this game is just the start, what they’ve got to do now is build on that and be consistent in their performances.”
On a weekend without a league game
“As we don’t have an under-18 league game this weekend, our second years are training up with the under-21s, so they’ll be in six days this week with James, and he will have a chance to look at them, but with the first-years and schoolboys, we’ve arranged a couple of under-17 friendlies over the next few days.
“We play Chelsea away tomorrow, to give half of the 15 and 16-year-olds a play a game, and then we’ve also picked a different team to face Chesterfield on Friday. We’ve got two games in three days, so it will give the lads who didn’t play on Saturday a game, and it gives some of the under-16s an opportunity to play as well, as we need to get them fit and give them game time. The plan is important because we want to make sure we are challenging the players daily.”
Wolves | Storer, Kaleta, Voice, Mabete, Igbinoghene, Ojinnaka, Harper, Farmer, Esen, Chiwome, Reynolds.
Subs | Carson, Shahar, Rees, C. McLeod, Ashworth.
