Wolves 4 (Carson 2, Holman 23, Whittingham 66, Farmer 70) Huddersfield Town 0
Wolves under-21s were dominant as they got their Premier League Cup campaign off to a flying start by putting four past Huddersfield Town in their opening group stage clash.
Centre-back Hayden Carson opened the scoring inside two minutes with a deft volley from just inside the box, before Fletcher Holman added to his stunner in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy last week by making it two midway through the first half with another powerful effort.
James Collins’ side did not let off after the break, and could have had racked up even more goals than the two they did add, with the first coming through Matty Whittingham who capitalised on a lack clearance from the Huddersfield defence, before Owen Farmer wrapped up the three points when he made it four 20 minutes from time.
Having made six changes from the side which started against Port Vale the previous week, Wolves made a quickfire start to the game at AFC Telford United’s SEAH Stadium.
Inside the opening 120 seconds, the Old Gold took the lead through a stunner from Carson. After a corner was only half cleared by the Huddersfield defence, Carson avoided the offside trap from a return pass into the box from Farmer before the centre-back took one touch to control the ball with his knee before lashing a left-footed volley beyond the reach of Francis Hurl and into the far corner of the visitor’s net.
A stunning opener 🤌 pic.twitter.com/qVdtjiiSqb
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) September 12, 2024
On 10 minutes, Wolves could have doubled their advantage when Farmer was played over the top of the Huddersfield defence and found himself one-on-one, but Hurl stood up strong to deny the forward from a good position.
A piece of fluid build-up play from Wolves, featuring neat one-touch passing, almost saw the ball end up the Huddersfield net as Ethan Sutherland was played in down the left before his cross was met by Tom Edozie in the box, but he was unable to turn the ball home from eight yards out.
But just seconds later, Wolves made it two. A slack clearance from Hurl was cut out by Whittingham, allowing Edozie to slip a pass into the run of the advancing Holman who slammed his first-time shot beyond the keeper.
Ruthless from Fletcher Holman 🎯 pic.twitter.com/obbkgcriR1
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) September 12, 2024
The hosts were indebted to their own stopper, Arthur Nasta, to remain ahead as the 18-year-old pulled off a good diving save to palm a long-range effort behind for a corner before commanding his box well from the subsequent barrage of crosses.
As the game approached half-time, Wolves had a few chances to add to their lead, as Holman rounded Hurl after the keeper had raced to the right edge of his box, but the forward was forced wide and the angle was too tough to get his effort on target. Then Farmer beat his marker from the right wing, raced into the box and pulled a good save from the legs of Hurl at his near post.
Half-time | Wolves 2 Huddersfield 0
Wolves flew out of the blocks straight from the second half kick-off, with Sutherland being played into space down the left, and having raced into the box, the Scot was denied a debut goal in gold and black as his effort was smothered by Hurl.
Edozie had an opportunity to make it three just before he was substituted at the hour mark when a Farmer cross was not fully cleared by Huddersfield and having picked up the ball at the edge of the box, tried a curling effort into the top corner, but he just couldn’t get enough curl on the ball and missed narrowly wide of the post.
Ty Barnett came on in place of Edozie, and he pulled a good save from Hurl after he played a low shot 25 yards out, and his shot appeared to be heading into the bottom corner, before the keeper turned it behind. Moments later, Barnett should have added to Wolves’ lead when he got his head on the end of a Farmer cross but put the ball over the bar from a matter of yards out.
However, the third goal arrived from the restart, as Wolves’ high press saw Farmer intercept a loose pass inside the Huddersfield half, and although stopping the cross from reaching Holman, the covering defender could only touch the ball straight into the path of Whittingham to tap into the bottom corner.
Whittingham adding goal number 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/H12WXQHQDS
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) September 12, 2024
Barnett could have had a hat-trick in the space of nine minutes after coming off the bench but gave up another glaring opportunity when a mix-up at the back allowed the forward a chance from six yards out, but he could only stab the ball wide.
But dominant Wolves added a fourth 20 minutes from time when Aaron Keto-Diyawa’s low cross from the left was only palmed by Hurl into the path of Farmer, who made no mistake from the centre of the Huddersfield box.
Wolves had an opportunity to make it five late on when Keto-Diyawa’s dangerous cross was flicked goalwards by Holman, but just missed the far post. Although the result was already beyond doubt, the hosts had a late scare when Nasta had to palm the ball off the line after it was almost turned in at close range.
Full-time | Wolves 4 Huddersfield 0
COMING UP
The under-21s’ Premier League Cup campaign continues on Tuesday night as James Collins’ side travel to Sheffield United for a 7pm kick-off.
NEXT THREE
- 17/09 Sheffield United (A) PL Cup
- 23/09 Leeds United (H)
- 26/09 AS Monaco (H) International Cup
TEAMS
Wolves | Nasta, White, Mabete, Carson, Igbinoghene (Voice 78), Ashworth, Whittingham (Angel 78), Farmer, Edozie (Barnett 59), Sutherland (Keto-Diyawa 59), Holman.
Unused sub | Pond.
Huddersfield | Hurl, Smith-Sway, Daley (Abbott 86), Solomon, Knowles, Ayina, Stone (Philpott 71), Vost, (Gregory 86), Ashia, Bowker.
Unused subs | Riva, Isaac.
