Albion under-21s’ match against Tottenham will be live on our YouTube channel this Friday, kick-off 7pm.
The game marks Shannon Ruth’s first match as under-21s head coach, having been appointed to the role following Andrew Crofts’s promotion to first-team coach under Roberto De Zerbi.
“It’s exciting, the first game of any new role is,” Ruth said. “This is my seventh season here as part of the under-21s but this game will certainly feel different to any other.
“As the assistant you put your opinions forward, but you’re not the person who makes the final call and the pressure isn’t on you to do that. Now that’s my task and one that I am embracing.
“Myself and [under-21s assistant head coach] Gary Dicker have a really good relationship. Gary has got so much experience, he has over 500 games under his belt, he’s played for this football club and he’s really key to this coaching set-up.”
Albion have five points after six Premier League 2 games, but Ruth believes his team should have more to their name.
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“We don’t feel it’s a fair reflection of some of the performances we’ve put in, but we are where we are. That’s a part of under-21s football because players get pulled in multiple directions – some will go out on loan and first-team players drop into the team sometimes, so to keep the group together and to perform as a unit is a challenge, as it is for most teams at this level.
“As an age group it’s going through constant change. Some of the performances and individual displays we’ve been really pleased with. We’ve not been far away from a couple of results, but we’re definitely looking to get a good one on Friday.”
The game will be live on our YouTube channel from just before kick-off.