No goals as MU21s are held by Burnley

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Hard-fought 0-0 draw leaves Albion needing to win their final game to progress in the Premier League Cup.

Nick Szczepanik

2024-12-07T18:15+00:00

Louis Flower went close to scoring a late winner. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Albion’s MU21s were held to a goalless draw in the Premier League Cup by Group G winners Burnley and will now probably have to win their final group game, away to Luton Town on January 31, to have a chance of progressing to the knockout stage of the competition.

Luton are a point behind second-placed Albion but have a game in hand, at home to bottom club Reading, on January 6. The seven best runners-up in the nine qualifying groups go through

Burnley had won all four of their Group G games, scoring 14 goals and conceding only two. Their qualification for the second stage was already assured and the point secured top spot and a home game in the first knockout round.

The game at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre was played in appalling conditions that neither side managed to master. Albion attacked into the teeth of Storm Darragh in the first half, the visitors attempting to take advantage of having gale-force winds at their backs. But in fact Albion coped with the conditions better than the visitors.

Keeping the ball on the ground was the obvious plan. Midfielder Yussif Owusu went for an even simpler tactic in the seventh minute, surging forward with the ball from half-way, dodging challenges but eventually shooting wide of the far post.

Goalkeeper Hugo Fisher had to keep a wary eye on any high ball in the blustery conditions, but fortunately for Albion Burnley’s shooting was off target and when Joe Wesley did got shots between the posts on two occasions, Fisher saved well.

Albion should have gone ahead after 28 minutes when Jamie Mullins’ pass sent Josh Duffus clear, but the striker took too long to decide whether to shoot or go round goalkeeper Charlie Casper and the chance was gone. Casper did even better minutes later, pawing the ball around the post as Sahil Bashir rained a shot at the top near corner.

Would Albion make the most of the extreme weather after the break? Jabob Slater tested Casper with a free kick that arrowed towards the top corner but ended up nestled safely in the goalkeeper’s gloves. It was proving just as difficult to play with the wind as against it. Remiero Moulton got the ball in the net but referee Stephen Parkinson disallowed his effort for a high boot.

Substitute Louis Flower had a good chance nine minutes from time but defender Hamzat Balogun denied him with a last-ditch block. And Flower was denied by another desperate tackle as full-time approached from Marcus Ifill’s low cross.

Albion: Fisher; Tasker (sub: Turns 74), Penman, Slater, Mills; Owusu, (Gulzar 62) Knight; Bashir (Ifill 74), Mullins, Moulton Caylan Vickers 76); Duffus (Flower 62).