Under-21s beat reigning champions City

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Charlie Tasker and Adam Brett score in win for under-21s.

Nick Szczepanik

2025-11-09T17:30+00:00

Charlie Tasker opened the scoring. 📸 By Paul Hazlewood.

Albion’s under-21s enjoyed their return home after five games on the road, handing last season’s PL2 champions Manchester City their fourth defeat of the season. They were beaten only three times in 2024/25.

Captain for the day Charlie Tasker put Albion ahead after 19 minutes and Adam Brett made it 2-0 a minute before half time with his second goal in as many league games. Albion goalkeeper Steven Hall saved a penalty with the last kick of the match.

Both sides ended the game a man short. City were down to ten men after only 12 minutes when midfielder Femi Fapetu was shown a red card for a challenge on Joe Belmont that later forced the Albion man off.

Albion’s Yussif Owusu followed after 78 minutes following an off-the-ball incident, but by then the game was won.

Albion were first to show when Brett charged onto Tasker’s forward pass, rode a desperate challenge from a defender and set up Belmont for a shot that was deflected for a corner.

But City began to look dangerous down the left and low crosses from Emilio Lawrence twice forced Albion into last-ditch clearances, first by Ben Barclay and then a combination of Charlie Penman and goalkeeper Hall.

However, the visitors were a man short after only 13 minutes when Fapetu was sent off for a challenge on Belmont. The former Arsenal youngster looked aghast but referee Niall Smith had no hesitation in reaching for his red card and Belmont required four minutes of treatment on his left knee.

Adam Brett scored his second goal in as many games. 📸 By Paul Hazlewood.

No sooner was Belmont back in the action than Albion were ahead. City appeared to have cleared Younes Ibrahim’s corner from the left but when Ibrahim returned the ball into the danger area, Tasker leapt above the defenders to glance a header past goalkeeper Brooklyn Nfonkeu.

City, driven on from midfield by their captain, Jaden Heskey – son of former England striker Emile – were still a threat despite being a man light and Penman did well to deflect a shot from Divine Musaka over the crossbar.

But eventually Albion began to make their advantage count and they doubled their lead after another corner on the left by Ibrahim was headed back into the middle by substitute Aidan West. An almighty goalmouth scramble followed as Charlie Penman had a shot saved and Brett put the rebound against the bar before nodding home at the second attempt.

Owusu nearly made it three in added time but he lashed his first-time shot wide from another good cross by the influential Ibrahim.

Early in the second half the speedy Lawrence fired off a reminder that City were still in the game, outpacing Callum Mackley before shooting just past the far post. And just past the hour Musaka hit a dipping swerving shot from distance that beat Hall but smacked the crossbar.

Not to be outdone, Brett chanced his arm from 25 yards with a shot that almost deceived Nfonkeu, who fumbled the ball against the bar but got away with his error. The City keeper did better when he blocked West’s shot after the Albion man had cut inside Harrison Parker to leave himself with just the goalkeeper to beat. And again as the ball ping-ponged around the City penalty area after a defensive error had let Brett in.

Yussif Owusu was sent off in the second half. 📷 by James Boardman.

City pressed forward with renewed belief after Owusu’s dismissal and had a chance to pull one back with the final action of the game. Albion substitute Zachary Brennan was ruled to have fouled City defender Jadel Katongo at a corner, but Hall blocked Musaka’s chipped penalty with his boot.

Albion (4-4-2): Hall; Mackley, Barclay, Penman (Atom 62), Keogh; Tasker (Hayden 46), Owusu, Middleton, Ibrahim; Belmont (West 25), Brett (Brennan 83).