James Collins’ development side head to The Mornflake Stadium and take on Northern Group C leaders Crewe Alexandra, where even a win might not be enough to secure a place in the last 16 of the EFL competition.
Having got their campaign off to a positive start with a penalty shootout victory over League One high-fliers Wigan Athletic, Wolves under-21s came back down to earth with a loss on the road at Shrewsbury Town.
Although the young Wolves side were more than a match for the third-tier opposition for 70 minutes of the clash at the Montgomery Waters Meadow – which saw the old gold take a lead through Owen Hesketh – Shrewsbury’s experience paid off with three goals late in the game as Wolves tired.
Wolves are currently sat third in the group, one point ahead of Wigan but one behind Shrewsbury and four behind Tuesday’s hosts, and with the Latics hosting Salop at the same time this evening, Collins’ side will need to better the result of the Shrews if they are to clinch one of the top two places in the group.
It’s not the first time Wolves have taken on Crewe this season, with Collins leading a side made up of under-23 and under-18 players to a 2-1 defeat at Lilleshall in pre-season. Despite their two wins from two so far in the Papa John's Trophy, the Railwaymen are not having the best of runs in League One, finding themselves bottom of the table with just one win from their opening 16 league matches.
Due to the Papa John’s Trophy being an EFL competition, we are unable to provide the usual live match stream for this evening’s visit to Crewe.
However, supporters can follow @WolvesAcademy on Twitter for match updates, while reaction will also follow on wolves.co.uk.
WHEN
Tuesday, 7pm
WHERE
The Mornflake Stadium, Crewe
LAST THREE
Wolves
1-1 vs West Bromwich Albion (H)
0-2 vs Stoke City (A)
3-2 vs Newcastle United (H)
Crewe
0-3 vs Swindon Town* (H) FAC
1-1 vs Doncaster Rovers* (H)
1-4 vs MK Dons* (H)
WHAT THE BOSS THINKS
Having suffered a late collapse on in their previous Papa John’s Trophy clash away at Shrewsbury, James Collins said his players must use the disappointment as a learning experience.
“The reason this competition’s put on is so our lads can see how they compete against league level football, under lights, at a stadium, and I thought we equipped ourselves really well.
“I was delighted with them really. I’m frustrated because I think we could have got something out of the game, but we know when we bring a young group to this competition, as young as we’re bringing, that can happen, so I can’t moan about it afterwards.
“I thought we played some brilliant football, Cundle was excellent, Chem was excellent, Owen Hesketh did very well, Hoddy in patches, Dexter at left-back as a young kid coped brilliantly. Many positives and that’s why we’re in this competition, there’s just frustration of not getting anything out of the game because I thought, overall, we probably deserved to, but the physicality wore us down in the end.
“We’re still in it, with getting two points from the first game. We still have an opportunity to qualify and it’s another game in this competition and we want as many as we can in this competition, because I think we learn the most from it.”
NEXT FIVE
09/11 Crewe Alexandra* (A) PJT
19/11 Birmingham City (A)
25/11 Swansea City (A) PLC
29/11 Norwich City (H)
03/12 Fulham (A)
*indicates first-team opposition
