Ruth: We were resilient against Manchester United

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Albion came from behind to draw 1-1 with United in PL2.

2026-01-26T16:15+00:00

Shannon Ruth's team are now 15th in Premier League 2. 📸 by Paul Hazlewood.

Our men's under-21s head coach Shannon Ruth felt his side deserved even more after taking a valuable point from Premier League 2 leaders Manchester United at the Trafford Training Centre in Carrington on Monday.

Kofi Shaw capped a fine individual display with a second-half equaliser against a United team that included Dutch international Tyrell Malacia and a host of other players with Premier League experience.

But Albion are disappointed not to have gone on to sentence the home side to only their second league defeat of the season such was the quality of their performance.

Ruth said, "I have just said to the players that they were unlucky not to win the game. I thought we finished the game really strongly and after we got the equaliser we really tried to win it. That really shows the strength of our mentality.

Shannon Ruth's team drew 1-1 with Manchester United on Monday. 📸 by Simon Roe.

"United had to change shape and go more defensive to hold out and I am really pleased with the performance. It's a good point for us. We were unlucky to go 1-0 down from the first real bit of quality that United showed going forward and it would have been easy for us to feel sorry for ourselves.

"You only had to look at their line-up. They have got Premier League appearances and a Dutch international in their team and when you go a goal behind when you don't deserve it then that can deflate you.

"But we regrouped at half-time and came back pretty strongly. A point was the least we deserved.

"It's been a busy period. We had Dinamo Zagreb in the Premier League International Cup last Tuesday, we've got Liverpool on Friday, and an FA Youth Cup game tomorrow night. As a group we have showed great character and togetherness. For large periods we were really resilient - and that pleased me."

Kofi Shaw joined Albion from Bristol Rovers. 📸 by Paul Hazlewood.

Shaw, 19, signed from Bristol Rovers in the summer, has seen his progress disrupted by injury this season.

But he scored a superb free-kick in the 2-0 victory over Zagreb and didn't hesitate to throw himself into a challenge with United keeper William Murdock to poke home the goal that cancelled out the lead given to United by highly-rated winger Shea Lacey.

"Kofi has incredible tenacity," Ruth continued. "He is always in and around the box, trying to make something happen through his doggedness and quality. Not only is he good with the ball, he presses hard and makes things happen.

"Kofi has obviously got experience at League One level with Bristol Rovers, so he embraces the physicality of the game. A 50-50 with a keeper isn't something he will shy away from.

"He's had a stop-start season after picking up an injury, so to see him affecting games is great for him and great for us.

"I thought Shane Nti was excellent as well. He really makes us play during moments of pressure."