Wolves 3 (Chiwome 52, 70, Pond 67) West Brom 0
Leon Chiwome’s brace helped Wolves under-21s to three points in Monday’s Black Country derby victory over West Bromwich Albion in Premier League 2.
Chiwome struck twice either side of Alfie Pond’s header as three second half goals secured the bragging rights for James Collins’ side.
Jimmy Storer had to be alert in the Wolves goal early on, with the visitors starting brightly at the New Bucks Head. The goalkeeper got down well to thwart Layton Love who had directed a powerful effort towards the bottom corner following Akeel Higgins’ initial run.
At the other end, Baggies stopper Ben Cisse had to be at his best to deny Chiwome the opener, when the striker won the ball at the second attempt before seeing his shot, which was heading into the far corner, tipped away by Cisse.
Ty Barnett forced another superb save from Cisse as the half-time interval approached, as a free-kick from the attacker looked to be heading into the top corner before the goalkeeper came flying across to tip the ball over for a corner.
The visitors created a glorious opening to take the lead when some neat interchange resulted in Love finding Fenton Heard in behind Temple Ojinnaka, but the skewed his effort wide at the vital moment.
Half-time | Wolves 0-0 West Brom
Wolves broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half and it was a well-worked goal from back to front which saw the hosts work their way through the thirds with a flowing passing move before going out wide to Marvin Kaleta. The full-back crossed low and after the West Brom defence couldn’t clear, Chiwome was there to pounce as he poked into the net from a few yards out.
Leon Chiwome breaks the deadlock in the Black Country derby 🐺#PL2 pic.twitter.com/7yZaqO4uuP
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) February 19, 2024
Baggies so nearly levelled on 65 minutes when the ball dropped to the boot of Alex Williams who let fly on the edge of the area, but had his head in his hands when the ball rattled off the base of the post.
Wolves doubled their advantage just two minutes later, and it was Pond who glanced home from Barnett’s teasing free-kick as the flag remained down much to the Old Gold’s delight.
And two was three on the 70-minute mark as Kaleta’s attacking threat continued as he drifted inside with the ball and travelled some 20 yards before playing a perfectly weighted pass for Chiwome who did the rest, clinically firing across goal and into the far corner for his second of the night and confirmation of the three points.
Full-time | Wolves 3-0 West Brom
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s travel to face Crystal Palace in the quarter-final of the International Cup next Monday.
NEXT FIVE
- 26/02 Crystal Palace (A) PLIC
- 04/03 Newcastle United (H)
- 11/03 Derby (A)
- 15/03 Everton (A)
- 08/04 Sunderland (H)
TEAMS
Wolves | Storer, Kaleta (Lopes 81), Hubner, Griffiths, Ojinnaka, Pond, Chirewa (Keto-Diyawa 72), Whittingham, Chiwome (Holman 81), Barnett (Tipton 87), N. Lemina (Gonzalez 46).
West Brom | Cisse, Williams, Nelson, Mfuamba (Richards 78), Hall, Shaw, Higgins (Sule 76), Whitwell, Love, Heard, Bostock.
Subs not used | Brady, Mandey, Deeming.
