West Bromwich Albion U21 (2) – QPR Development Squad (3) 

Premier League Cup 

Team: Shepperd, Putman, Da Silva, Manufor, trialist, Tuck, Petrie, Talla, Dillon, Murphy, Sutton 

Subs: Halliday, McDowell, Sanyaolu, O’Brien, Vaughan 

After Sammy had collected Ron Hill and I from Park Royal, we stopped off at the Warwick Services where we bumped into Paul Furlong and the team. 

We went on to arrive at Solihull Moors’ Damson Park in good time, where we met up with Martin and Chris Beattie. 

Harry Murphy provided the R’s first shot on target after five minutes, following a great ball over to Kieran Petrie. 

After a scramble in the box three minutes later, Sam Manufor cleared Harry Whitwell’s header off the line. This was soon followed by Eseosa Sule’s attempt being saved. 

West Brom took the lead on ten minutes courtesy of Eseosa Sule, after the R’s had given the ball away. The Baggies striker went on to slot the ball home. 

Eseosa Sule then broke away again and forced Nathan Shepperd to keep out his shot with his legs. 

On 26 minutes, Emmerson Sutton couldn’t quite connect with a great ball knocked across the six-yard box. 

Then, from a cross three minutes later, Cian Dillon’s shot was blocked, and the ball went behind for a corner.  

For the Baggies, the dangerous Eseosa Sule raced through the middle at speed and his resulting shot was stopped just inside the penalty area. 

There was a big shout for a penalty when Cian Dillon was clearly brought down in the box, but Mr Searle wasn’t interested! 

It was very noticeable that the fourth official, a Mr Wayne Gray, was getting over involved with a number of throw-ins in front of us, and he even threw the ball to an Albion player on one occasion! Not to mention the certain rapport he had with the home side’s bench! Half-time: 0-1. 

Rangers equalised eight minutes after the interval. Following a good move involving Lorent Talla and Kieran Petrie, the resulting cross from the right found Cian Dillon, who then smashed the ball into the net from close range. 

West Brom regained the lead in the 59th minute, but prior to that the R’s trialist had been clearly flattened (literally) in an area wide of the box!  Eseosa Sule then went on to finish at the near post. 

Paul Furlong made his first changes on 62 minutes, which saw the introduction of Rohan Vaughan and Archie O’Brien at the expense of Alfie Tuck and Kieran Petrie respectively.  

Rangers got a deserved second equaliser on 66 minutes, when anticipating a low cross, Emmerson Sutton, put the ball away from close range. 

Now playing with three at the back, the R’s went looking for the lead. Rohan Vaughan broke away without opposition, which led to Ben Cisse tipping his shot over the bar. 

The next change saw Philip Sanyaolu replacing Emmerson Sutton on 72 minutes. 

Rohan Vaughan nabbed the winner with around 15 minutes remaining. The R’s substitute stormed upfield, and after facing Ben Cisse one-on-one, he stroked the ball home. 

At the other end, a swift interception from Sam Manufor denied the Baggies a goalscoring opportunity. 

Three minutes into the five added, saw Jack McDowell come on for Cian Dillon. 

Rangers had certainly upped their game after the break and deserved their progression into the semi-finals.  

Steve Russell