U18 REPORT: BIRMINGHAM CITY 3-3 BURNLEY

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Young Clarets take point from draw against Blues in West Midlands

2022-10-15T13:00:00.000Z

U18 REPORT: BIRMINGHAM CITY 3-3 BURNLEY

Young Clarets take point from draw against Blues in West Midlands

2022-10-15T13:00:00.000Z

Fourth Round meeting with Hammers pushed back three days with venue change

Tony Philliskirk’s youth team returned to U18 Professional Development League action with a 3-3 draw away at Birmingham City to add another point to their tally for the campaign.

The young Clarets had found themselves 3-0 up in the West Midlands before a late comeback from the hosts denied them a fourth league win of the season. Nathan James, Joe Westley and Ryan Tioffo were the Burnley goalscorers.

Philliskirk’s side were in League Cup action last time out, losing out 2-1 to Blackpool, with the boss making three changes to his team from their previous outing in the league, a 1-0 win at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

Charlie Casper returned in goal while Frankie Deane & Trevon Bryan also came into the side. Dylan Sime and Lucas Wane both dropped to the bench with shot stopper Harry Moss not involved against the Blues.

U18 REPORT: BIRMINGHAM CITY 3-3 BURNLEY - Image 1

First Half

It was Burnley who started on the front foot at City’s Wast Hills Training Ground as a deep cross to the far post found full-back Tosin Olopade in space, but he could only hammer over on the half-volley.

The young Clarets continued to knock on the door early on as Bryan, making his first start of the campaign, curled an effort wide from 25 yards out.

Only a superb double save from Birmingham ‘keeper Kobi Brooks then denied Burnley with Westley meeting a ball into the area and seeing his effort kept out alongside the follow-up from midfielder Callum West.

Birmingham’s first real chance of the game came after a quiet spell, Ife Oni breaking through and seeing his effort denied well by Casper at his near post.

Republic of Ireland youth international Deane also saw a long-range shot easily held by Brooks, and that was the last action of a goalless first 45 minutes.

Second Half

Having dominated proceedings for much of the first half, it took just 10 minutes at the restart for Philliskirk’s side to open the scoring. A corner was driven in low towards the near post by Deane, and Thailand youth international James got in front of his marker to volley past a helpless Brooks.

Only a minute later, one become two as Wiktor Gromek found space on the right before putting a low cross into the area which found Westley. The frontman beat ‘keeper Brooks to the ball before seeing his effort bounce off the post and in, a clinical finish.

WESTLEY RARING TO GO IN EAST LANCASHIRE DERBY CUP CLASH - Image 2

Deane’s set-piece deliveries were causing real problems for the Blues defence, and it was through one of his corners that Burnley found their third on 65 minutes. This time, a delivery into the middle of the box reached striker Tioffo who rose highest to head over Brooks and into the top of the net.

Birmingham, who had looked as though they were out of the game, found a route back into it when substitute Trevan Sanusi found himself in behind and slotted past Casper one-on-one.

Six minutes later, they then halved the deficit after good work from the Blues on the left forced a Clarets defender to put the ball into his own net and make it 3-2.

The hosts pressure continued to build, with only a good reaction stop from Casper low to his right denying forward Ben Beresford what looked like a certain equaliser.

Burnley had a couple of chances to put the game away moments later as firstly Brooks denied Westley once more, before a long-range effort from Polish youth international Gromek stung the palms of the Blues number one.

Updates to youth team’s schedule

An acrobatic save from the ‘keeper then denied Westley his second of the afternoon, and the hosts used those stops as leverage to find themselves a late leveller.

Deep into time added on, a free-kick found its way to the back post and to Morgan Dance, who at the second attempt managed to flick the ball past Casper with what was the last kick of the game.

Despite the late setback. Philliskirk’s side have now extended their unbeaten run in the U18 Professional Development League to five games.

The U18s now return to action next Saturday –22nd October – against Crewe Alexandra at the Burnley Training Centre with an 11am kick-off scheduled.

Burnley: Casper, Olopade, James, Ashton (Sweeney ’50), Grant, West (Sime ’71), Gromek, Deane, Bryan (Wane, ’68), Westley ©, Tioffo (Vaughan ’84)

Unused Sub: Vilar Robinson

Birmingham City: Brooks, Boakye, Oni, Willis, Carsley (Sanusi ’68), Oduka, Dance, Home, Beresford, Rushton, Williams

Unused Subs: Sayer, Elis, Ogor, Donovan

Goals: James, ’55, Westley, ’56, Tioffo, ’65, Sanusi, ’69, Dance, ‘90+5