Lee Harkin marked a brilliant week personally with two goals as Wolves under-23s cruised past Middlesbrough in the Premier League 2. The youngster showed composure aplenty with two clinical finishes either side of half-time on a fine afternoon for James Collins' team.
Both of those goals were provided by Chem Campbell, who got the ball rolling himself just like did at Peterborough United last weekend, as Collins’ side maintained their impressive form, making it seven wins in their last eight in all competitions.
The opening 45 was a story of just two chances, and two goals which had Wolves in cruise control, despite the hosts enjoying much of the early ball. Two shots on target in the entire half, and Wolves were clinical with both, thanks to fine finishes from Campbell and Harkin.
The first moment of quality brought the first goal, and unsurprisingly it was Campbell who continued his hot streak. A strong run by Taylor Perry was followed by a ball out wide to Hugo Bueno, whose stepover took him past Daniel Dodds, and his whipped cross was headed into the bottom corner by the attacker.
As in recent weeks, Harkin was leading the line, and we capped a fine personal week with Wolves’ second. Campbell forced the issue by pressing his man and forcing a poor back pass, but Harkin sniffed out the opportunity, latched on to the loose ball and rounded the goalkeeper to finish for Wolves’ second.
Half-time | Middlesbrough 0 Wolves 2
The final action of notes in the opening period was a Harkin goal, and it was a repeat for the first opening of the second. Campbell was again the creator, slipping in his team mate down the left, and Harkin produced a fine finish with the outside of his right foot and into the corner.
Campbell and Harkin were causing serious problems to Boro, who watched on as Campbell cut inside and curled just wide of the far top corner soon after, after good work by Dexter Lembikisa down the right.
On 73 minutes, Boro did come close, but Afonso Lindo’s glancing header failed to hit the target. One minutes from time, down the opposite end, Perry played a free-kick shot to Campbell, who let fly from distance and saw his strike cannon back off the outside of the post, but it mattered not, as Wolves returned to winning ways in the Premier League 2.
Full-time | Middlesbrough 0-3 Wolves
COMING UP
The Easter double header continues on Monday night, as the under-23s return to Molineux, where they’ll host Newcastle United. Click here to purchase tickets.
NEXT THREE
18/04 Newcastle United (H)
25/04 Stoke City (H)
29/04 Norwich City (A)
TEAMS
Middlesbrough | Fisher, Dodds, Wood, Sykes, Bilongo (Lindo 48), Collins, Gibson, Payero (Cornet 46), Boyd-Munce, Sivi (Walker 61), Finch.
Unused subs | Bulmer, Willis.
Wolves | Arinbjornsson, Lembikisa, Tipton, Marques, Hubner, Bueno (Nya 82), Hodge (Hodnett 77), Griffiths, Perry, Campbell, Harkin (Carty 66).
Unused subs | Kandola, Roberts.
