Tasker strikes but men's under-21s are held

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Albion drew 1-1 with Aston Villa in Premier League 2 on Sunday.

Bruce Talbot

2025-02-23T18:00+00:00

Albion celebrate after taking the lead against Aston Villa. Photo: Paul Hazlewood

Charlie Tasker’s fine finish wasn’t enough to earn the men’s under-21s a first Premier League 2 win in six attempts on Sunday.

Tasker’s 16th-minute volley into the top corner put Albion ahead against Aston Villa but Tristan Rowe grabbed a deserved leveller with four minutes to go in difficult conditions at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre.

Villa had settled first and Mason Cotcher should have done better in the fifth minute with a shot he drilled straight at keeper Hugo Fisher.

Shane Nti eludes two Villa defenders. Photo: Paul Hazlewood.

But Albion grew into the game though as Josh Robertson and Joe Knight began to dictate the tempo in midfield and they went ahead when Robertson’s inswinging corner from the right was cleared to defender Tasker, who thumped a powerful volley into the top corner from 12 yards – a finish any striker would have been proud of.

Albion remained in control without carving out too many more clear-cut chances in the opening 45 and Villa should have levelled in stoppage time. Harry Mills lost possession in the visitors’ box and they swept menacingly down the right. Rowe’s cross found Omar Khedr unmarked ten yards out but his shot was wide of the post – a let-off for Albion.

Joe Knight kept things ticking over in midfield for Albion. Photo: Paul Hazlewood.

Sahil Bashir had an attempt blocked early in the second half but Villa then started to dominate. There was a moment of alarm for Fisher when he misjudged a cross in the swirling wind and I-Lani Edwards nipped in, but his effort went wide of an open goal. Fisher then had to hold onto a close-range header from the Villa substitute and a left-footed strike by Rowe.

Fourth official Adrian Tranter took over the line after assistant Dean Treleaven limped off midway through the second half, giving both teams the opportunity to regroup but it was the visitors who were on top.

Harry Mills drives forward. Photo: Paul Hazlewood.

Mills headed an inswinging cross from Edwards off his own line but seconds later Villa levelled when Rowe drove a low right-foot shot through a crowd of bodies into the far corner from the right-hand edge of the six-yard box.

On the balance of play it was no more than the visitors deserved, and Albion had to defend doggedly in the closing stages to protect their point with Fisher making an instinctive block to keep out another Rowe effort in stoppage time.