Under-18s win opening Premier League Cup match

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Norwich were comfortably beaten in first group game.

Charlie Hanson

2021-09-21T08:00:00Z

Albion won their opening game of their Under-18s Premier League Cup campaign.

Albion got their Under-18s Premier League Cup campaign underway with a 3-0 win over Norwich City.

It was the first of three group games and James Baxter’s team will also face Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

Zak Emmerson gave Albion the lead just before the break at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre before Bailey Smith doubled the hosts’ lead six minutes after the restart.

Canaries defender Waylon Renecke was sent off for a last-man challenge on Emmerson, before Joshua Duffus added a third goal with 20 minutes to go.

Baxter said, “A clean sheet and a win is always good. We played Norwich last week in the league so we had an idea of what they were going to do, but they changed their shape which took us a bit of time to get used to. After a couple of tactical tweaks we were on top.

“We went in at the break just about deserving our lead, but we were superior in the second half. We saw the game out in a professional manner, which was another pleasing aspect.

“There are a number of boys who were involved in the under-17s’ cup win last season who will want to taste the same success this year. They know how hard it is to win a final at the highest level of youth football and they will want to use that experience to their advantage.”