Half-time substitute Josh Esen scored within minutes of coming on to secure a point for Wolves under-18s against Derby County.
Dajaune Brown had given the Rams the lead at Compton Park, but James McPike’s side battled back to equalise in the second period.
It was the visitors who had the first chance of the game after a quiet opening 10 minutes, when Brown latched onto a ball over the top and lifted his shot over Palmi Arinbjornsson, but wide of the post.
Five minutes later, Brown opened the scoring when he dispossessed Arinbjornsson in the Wolves goal, before rolling into the empty net to give the visitors the lead following high pressure.
After this, Wolves looked to get back into the game and had their first opportunity to do so when Ty Barnett showed great feet to wriggle between two defenders, before he drove a powerful shot towards goal which saw Harry Evans save at the near post.
Half-time | Wolves 0-1 Derby
Esen was brought on during the break and made the desired impact when he fired into the far corner to round off a neat move and draw Wolves level.
Josh Esen firing across goal for the equaliser ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/0uBjCk5Lu2
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) January 16, 2023
Minutes later, the bright start to the second half continued. Leo Shahar drove forwards down the right and picked out Tom Edozie with a low cross, but his first-time shot went over the bar.
Barnett then picked out substitute Conor McLeod with a fantastic long-range pass, as he took it round the goalkeeper but couldn’t direct his effort on target from a tight angle.
The visitors then came back into the game after a good spell of pressure by Wolves who looked better in the second 45, as Riley Moloney had a free-kick on the edge of the box but blazed it over.
In the dying embers, some resilient defending from Wolves ensured a hard-earned point was protected as a goalmouth scramble saw some last-ditch defending before Arinbjornsson made a save at the near post to prevent Callum Moore from turning home a cross.
Full time | Wolves 1-1 Derby
REACTION
Following the game, head coach James McPike admitted he was pleased with the overall performance in what was a competitive and well-fought encounter.
He said: “It was close, fiercely fought and really competitive. Both teams set up in similar shapes, so it was almost a man-for-man kind of game, but I’m generally happy with the boys overall.”
On playing out from the back
“Mistakes always happen, it’s for the boys to try and recognise the right situations to play and the right times, but as a preference we want to play out from the back.
“Sometimes when you play that way there are going to be mistakes and things happen, that’s just the way it is at this sort of age group.
“They need to recognise when it is on to play and when playing might mean a pass up the pitch.”
On a fast start to the second half
“We tweaked the shape slightly so we could get a bit more pressure on their back three, which I think ultimately worked.
“I just jeered them up and motivated them a bit, and encouraged them to play more.
“Once we put pressure on them, I thought that we looked like we could create a chance, so it was just jeering them up a bit, changing the shape slightly and making a couple of changes in personnel which I think helped as well.”
On substitute Josh Esen’s performance
“I am more pleased with his reaction. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, he didn’t start today, so I’m really pleased with his impact and how he applied himself in the second half, and his positive reaction in the end.”
NEXT FIVE
- Everton 21/01 (A)
- Manchester United 28/01 (H)
- Stoke City 11/02 (A)
- Newcastle United 18/02 (H)
- Sunderland 25/02 (A)
TEAMS
Wolves | Arinbjornsson, Shahar, Diomande, Hvid (McLeod 46), Carson, Igbinoghene, Ashworth (Esen 46), Francis-Burrell, Edozie (Salmon 77), Rees (Bradbury 57), Barnett (Scicluna 89).
Derby | Evans, Moore, Moloney, Fapetu, Cox (Osayande 34), Robinson, Richards, Hawkins, Brown (Simons 81), Ashia, Wheeldon (Davidson 69).
