Wolves under-23s ended their Premier League Cup group stage on a disappointing note, as James Collins shuffled up his pack, who couldn’t respond to falling two goals behind to Exeter City. Charlie Hanson and Ellis Johnson found the target, and Wolves had no response, but progressed into the knockout stages as group runners up.
A top of the table spot was on offer for Collins’ men, but they didn’t get off to the sort of start they’d hoped for, falling two behind in the opening 25 minutes. The Grecians opened the scoring when a long ball was helped into the path of Hanson by Sammy Cox and the former flicked into the roof of the net.
The visitors’ second arrived on 25 minutes and it came from a Wolves mistake. Chem Campbell was robbed of possession deep into his own half, which allowed Johnson to stride forward and roll home Exeter’s second.
One positive for Wolves was the sight of Yerson Mosquera back in action – he got through 45 minutes of football, having returned from a long injury lay off dating back to September.
And Wolves did have flashes of goal as the half wore on, with Hugo Bueno particularly lively down the left, and when he got in behind and squared for Taylor Perry, a goal back looked likely, but the midfielder couldn’t get his effort on target.
Half-time | Wolves 0-2 Exeter
With plenty to do in the second period, Wolves went searching for a way back into the contest and should have got it when Perry worked the ball wide to Bueno and he whipped a dangerous cross onto the head of Conor Carty, who nodded into the ground and over from close range.
Wolves got even closer moments later when Perry found space on the edge of the and let fly, but Harry Lee was equal to his effort, palming away to safety. Soon after, following a series of corners, the goalkeeper fumbled Perry’s effort but Wolves couldn’t force the rebound home, and no further chances would follow.
Full-time | Wolves 0-2 Exeter
COMING UP
The Premier League 2 returns next Monday for Collins’ side, who host Reading at Aggborough Stadium, who sit bottom of the table with 15 points.
NEXT FIVE
28/02 Reading (H)
14/03 West Bromwich Albion (A)
18/03 Aston Villa (H)
25/03 Southampton (A)
01/04 Nottingham Forest (A)
TEAMS
Wolves | Arinbjornsson, Nya, Mosquera (Hubner), Marques, Estrada, Bueno, Perry, Hodnett (He), Harkin, Campbell, Carty (Sangare).
Unused subs | Tipton, Griffiths.
Exeter | Lee, Veale, Pond, Hartridge, Johnson, Coley (Beardmore), Dodd, Atangana, Iseguan (Edgecombe), Hanson (Lilley), Cox.
Unused subs | Sowden.
