Albion march all over Palace as Solly returns in 10-0 win

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Albion hit double figures against Palace in 10-0 humbling.

Charlie Hanson

2024-10-05T18:00+01:00

Solly March was making his first appearance for Albion since suffering a serious knee injury last year. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Solly March's return to action after a year out was nearly a side note as our men's under-21s crushed Crystal Palace 10-0 in Premier League 2 on Saturday.

The 30-year-old was making his first appearance since suffering a serious knee injury against Manchester City in October 2023, but a Caylan Vickers hat-trick, a Harry Howell brace and five other goalscorers ensured the main talking points belonged to the youngsters.

March was involved with Albion taking the lead after two minutes though. Having powered down the wing, Solly’s dangerous cross was flicked behind for a corner. Jamie Mullins’s cross was deflected into the path of Cam Peupion and the Aussie’s miss-hit shot looped over Palace keeper Louie Moulden.

March had a drive blocked behind for a corner, Ruairi McConville’s bending effort was tipped away and Joe Knight’s near-post drive was palmed clear as Albion’s pace out of the blocks couldn’t be tamed by Palace.

Ruairi McConville rises highest to put Albion 2-0 up. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Having had a shot that was bound for the back of the net somehow blocked by defender Sean Grehan, Solly was replaced as planned by Harry Howell after 25 minutes.

Despite March’s withdrawal, Albion maintained their momentum and had a second just before the half-hour mark. Unable to clear their lines, Palace could only watch on as McConville capitalised, rising highest to nod home from close range.

Caylan Vickers had to show composure for both his goals. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Mullins should have put the game to bed in the 47th minute when he flicked Peupion’s cross wide from six yards, but Vickers smashed home from close range three minutes later to remove any doubt about the result.

The former Reading man wasn't done there either as Peupion's cross deflected into the winger's path and he leathered it in from eight yards.

Cold. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

The gap between the teams became a chasm in the 59th minute. Having scored in each of his last two appearances, Josh Duffus made it a third consecutive game on the scoresheet, making it 5-0 on the day as he curled the ball into the bottom right corner.

Hugo Fisher was finally called into action with 25 minutes to play when he tipped Eyimofe Jemide's header, which looked destined for the top left corner, spectacularly over the bar.

Skipper Jamie Mullins added to the tally. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Salt was liberally thrown into the wound as Mullins and Harry Howell added goals six and seven. The Irishman won possession back on the edge of the Palace box before caressing the ball past Moulden, with Howell then rolling the ball in at the back-post from Marcus Ifill's cut-back.

Vickers grabbed his third and Albion's eighth when he fired in from Peupion's cross, Howell made it nine with a well taken drive into the bottom corner and Albion hit deserved double figures when Marcus Ifill's flicked header found the top right corner.

The unbelievable win moves Albion up to second in the division with four victories from their opening six games.

While their goalscoring exploits will rightly be praised after dispatching Palace, the result marked Albion's fourth cleansheet of the season having only conceded three goals so far in the the league.

The Albion team: Fisher, Tasker, McConville (Simmonds 69), Turns, Samuels (Slater 69), March (Howell 25), Mullins, Knight, Peupion, Duffus (Ifill 67), Vickers.