- Albion beat Southend United 2-0 at Roots Hall
- Taylor Richards and Warren O'Hora on target for Albion
- Result puts Albion on brink of qualification with a second win in two EFL Trophy games
- Final group stages fixture is against Leyton Orient on 5th November
Taylor Richards and Warren O’Hora got the goals, with both coming in the second half, as Albion made it two wins from two in the tournament, ahead of their final fixture at Leyton Orient on Bonfire Night.
Albion’s youngsters were looking to build on their exploits of last week. Several were promoted to the first-team for the Carabao Cup tie against Aston Villa last Wednesday, with others part of a sparkling under-23s' display at the Amex on Friday night against Spurs in Premier League 2.
Swedish midfielder Peter Gwargis saw an early free kick from the right angle of the penalty area pushed away for a corner by Southend keeper Nathan Bishop; and soon afterwards Haydon Roberts’s low ball into the box just eluded Ryan Longman.
Tudor Baluta and Jordan Davies linked well to create another opening for Longman. The striker had strayed offside, but it was Albion who looked the main threat in the opening 45 minutes.
Albion started the second half in much the same vein, and Richards took full advantage of Rob Kiernan’s unfortunate slip just outside his own penalty area in the 50th minute. The former Manchester City man ran at a retreating Southend defence and took his time to pick his spot before firing into the net.
Longman had a great opportunity to double the lead, as he found himself clean through on goal, but he hooked his effort wide of the left post; while Jordan Davies's shot from 20 yards out was parried by Bishop, before the home keeper gathered at the second attempt.
Even at 1-0, Albion had looked comfortable, with goalkeeper Jason Steele rarely troubled — but Southend gave Rusk’s charges a fright late on, as substitute Terrell Egbri’s speculative attempt smashed against the left-hand post.
However with nine minutes of regular time left to play, O’Hora calmed the nerves as he doubled the lead with a nonchalant flick to guide the ball home from Jordan Davies’s corner.
Albion’s victory could have been even more emphatic, as Longman carved out two late chances. First crossing for Danny Cashman, who saw his first-time shot saved by Bishop; and then playing a beautifully weighted pass to Bojan Radulovic. The striker fired past Bishop as he raced from goal, but his shot went just the wrong side of the right post.
ALBION: Steele; A. Davies, O'Hora, Roberts, Cochrane; Baluta, Jenks; J. Davies, Richards (Cashman 78), Gwargis (Radulovic 62); Longman.
SUBS NOT USED: Keto (GK), Freestone, Spong, Leahy.