Jack Scott’s first-half header almost secured the points for Wolves under-23s in their goalless draw with Sunderland, but the woodwork denied the wing-back his first goal of the Premier League 2 season.
In a cagey opening to the game, the only real chance inside the first 15 minutes fell to the feet of Conor Carty. The Irish youth international was played in between the Sunderland defence by Chem Campbell, but his curling shot is palmed away by visiting keeper Anthony Patterson.
Moments later, Wolves won a corner on the left, which was whipped towards the far post, but Nigel Lonwijk, having made a smart run into the box, was unable to direct his header towards goal.
Wolves were forced into a change mid-way through the first period when keeper Andreas Sondergaard went down under a heavy challenge as a Sunderland free-kick was lifted into the penalty area. With the Dane unable to continue, Joe Young came off the bench to make his first Premier League 2 appearance of the season.
Having seen Lewis Richards clear a shot from Josh Hawkes off the line, Wolves had their best opportunity of the first-half, after quickly breaking and setting up a corner at the other end of the pitch. From the resulting set-piece, Luke Cundle’s cross was met by the head of Scott, but the wing-back struck the corner of the crossbar and upright.
With Theo Corbeanu away with the Canadian national team, Wolves were relying on Scott at right wing-back to fill the space left by the forward, and it was the Northern Irish youth international who, after hitting the post himself in the first-half, was creating several chances for his teammates after the break.
Firstly, his clever ball from the right split the Sunderland defence and fell to Campbell inside the penalty area, but a heavy touch from the young Welsh forward saw Patterson gather.
Scott was heavily involved in Wolves’ next opportunity as he found space down the right before cutting a cross to Carty, but the number nine’s shot was straight at Patterson in the Sunderland goal.
Despite both sides trying to go for the win, both sides struggled to make a telling contribution in the final third, and had to settle for a point.
COMING UP
James Collins’ side will be back in action next Monday lunchtime when the under-23s travel to the north east to take on Middlesbrough. The match will kick off at 12pm at Heritage Park.
NEXT FIVE
22/03 Middlesbrough (A)
02//04 Aston Villa (A)
12/04 Newcastle United (H)
19/04 West Bromwich Albion (H)
26/04 Norwich City (H)
TEAMS
Wolves: Sondergaard (Young 25), Scott (Tipton 90), Lonwijk, Estrada, Richards, Bueno, Hong Wan (Samuels 73), Cundle, Hesketh, Campbell, Samuels.
Unused subs: Mayounga.
Sunderland: Patterson, Trialist (Wombwell 70), B. Taylor, Almond, Trialist, Wilding, Trialist, Wearne, E. Taylor, Hawkes, Mbunga-Kimpioka (Hackett 67).
Unused subs: Bond, Beaumont.
