James Collins’ side will be aiming to get their new campaign off to the perfect start in front of the home support, with this evening’s clash being the first time the development side have played in front of their own fans for almost 18 months.
The under-23s will compete in Division 2 once again this season, having narrowly missed out on promotion to the top-flight of English youth football after falling to Crystal Palace in last season’s play-off semi-finals.
With several of last year’s key men now out on loan with EFL clubs, including Theo Corbeanu and Taylor Perry, it is up to the younger members of Collins’ squad to make a name for themselves this season.
This evening’s opposition just missed out on a play-off spot last season, finishing in sixth position, but Collins admitted Middlesbrough were one of the toughest teams Wolves faced at Aggborough last time the sides met.
With the game kicking off at 7pm, Wolves season ticket holders can watch Wolves under-23’s home matches for free by producing their season ticket smartcards at the turnstiles on arrival.
For non-season ticket holders, admission is priced at £4 for adults, £2 for concessions and it’s free for under-16s, although under-16s will need to process a ticket to be scanned at the turnstile by clicking here. Tickets should be purchased in advance of the match.
If assistance is needed in obtaining a ticket, please call 01562 823931 or email shop@harriers.co.uk.
Please do not attend the match if you or anyone else you are attending with has any Covid-19 symptoms, and although face coverings are not mandatory, supporters are asked to be mindful as some attendees may still be more comfortable wearing a face covering.
With the game to be played behind closed doors, supporters can still catch all the action live from Reading on Wolves TV.
Supporters who are unable to attend the game at Aggborough can watch all the action live as the match is streamed online via wolves.co.uk, the Wolves App and the Wolves YouTube channel.
The live Wolves TV match stream, beginning at 7pm, can be found here, or click here to watch on YouTube, while supporters can also catch download the Wolves App now on iOS here and on Android here.
WHEN
Monday, 7pm
WHERE
Aggborough Stadium, Kidderminster
LAST THREE
Wolves
2-3 vs Crystal Palace (A) POSF
2-2 vs Reading (H)
0-5 vs Reading (A)
Middlesbrough
0-1 vs Crystal Palace (H)
2-3 vs Crystal Palace (A)
4-1 vs Aston Villa (H)
WHAT THE BOSS THINKS
Head coach James Collins says his players are excited to get their season underway, but with many of his players training with the first-team and Middlesbrough being a tough nut to crack last season, knows it’s going to be a difficult opening to the campaign for the under-23.
“I don’t think you can judge an under-23 team on what they did the previous season,” Collins admits. “What you can take is that Middlesbrough have a good reputation in producing players who get in their first-team.
“You know you’re always up against a team who can get the best out of the players from their area and produce some quality players, so they’re always going to be a test.
“When they played us at Kidderminster last season, I thought they were one of the best teams we’d played, exciting on the counter-attack with a front three who were really good to watch.
“Then away from home, I thought we deserved more out of the game than what we got. I thought we deserved to win the game.
“Who knows what kind of team they’re going to have this year, but what we do know with Middlesbrough is that they’ll always play good football and it will be a tough start.”
NEXT FIVE
16/08 Middlesbrough (H)
23/08 Reading (A)
27/08 Nottingham Forest (H)
31/08 Wigan Athletic (A) PJT
10/09 Burnley (A)
