Deserved Win For Dominant Under-21s At West Brom

Everton Under-21s recorded an excellent 3-0 Premier League 2 victory against West Bromwich Albion at Solihull Moors on Friday evening.

A brace from Braiden Graham and a wonder-strike from Jack Patterson gave Paul Tait’s side all three points.

Patterson’s goal in the ninth minute was a belter. Josh van Schoor carried the ball down the left flank and crossed it into the box where George Morgan challenged for it. The clearance rolled towards Patterson and he cracked a first-time thunderbolt of a drive into the top corner of the net.

Everton played some really eye-catching stuff in the first half. Luca Davis and Callum Bates linked up neatly on the right before the former crashed his shot into the side netting and Will Tamen won two successive headers from a corner that were cleared and then saved.

On the half-hour, Everton went two goals up. Patterson thundered into a challenge and when the ball fell to Graham he kept his composure to drill a low shot under the keeper.

Albion were restricted to a speculative long-range effort from distance by Noah Dupont that, although well-struck, was never likely to trouble George Pickford.

The third Blues goal came in first-half added time. Davis did well to keep the ball in play and then skipped superbly past a couple of defensive challenges before setting it up on a plate for Graham, who couldn’t miss from no more than a yard out.

There was a let-off for Everton at the very start of the second period when Cole Deeming curled a lovely effort goalwards that Pickford was relieved to see come back off the crossbar.

At the other end, Patterson tried his luck from distance again but this time the ball did not sit nicely enough and his effort missed the target.

The second 45 minutes were scrappy in comparison to the first, but for Everton it was very much a case of 'job done'. Albion never looked likely to work themselves back into the game and considering this was Everton’s second away fixture in four days, this was an excellent three points.

Tait told evertonfc.com: "I’m delighted with that win. We got an early foothold with Jack’s goal and we limited their chances to a couple of set-plays. It was a really good performance with good bits of quality.

"We played some really good stuff and I can’t praise the lads enough. George Morgan did well in terms of being that number nine, getting hold of the ball and setting other players up. We could build play off him.

"(The first goal) was unbelievable, what a strike! I’m really pleased for Jack because he’s been injured and we miss his character and professionalism when he’s not there. He’s a great kid and he doesn’t get too many goals, but that was something.

"Nice to see Braiden get his goals. He’s had a rest because he had a knock and he looked sharp tonight and refreshed. He suits that position – just in the pocket of space. He finds space well.

"(Will Tamen) is coming on. I think playing in the middle of a back three suited him tonight. He’s got Reece (Welch) on one side and Eli (Campbell) on the other. We’re lucky to have those two because they should be out playing men’s football but because of injuries we’ve kept them here. Between them two is a great place for Will to develop."