News

U23 Report: Spoils shared with Spurs on opening day

Albion kick-off campaign with a point on the road at Tottenham.

By Alex Stedman • 12 September 2020

By Tottenham Hotspur FC
Albion began their season with a draw away to Spurs on Saturday.
  • Albion draw 1-1 away to Tottenham Hotspur
  • Teddy Jenks fires Albion ahead
  • Kazaiah Sterling equalises for Spurs
  • Simon Rusk’s men host Arsenal next on Friday

Albion’s under-23s played out a competitive 1-1 draw against a strong Tottenham Hotspur side in Premier League 2 on Saturday.

Teddy Jenks fired Albion into a 15th minute lead, before Kazaiah Sterling drew the home side level and that’s how the score would remain. 

Albion fashioned their first chance of the game through Peter Gwargis after ten minutes. 

The Swedish midfielder found some nice space just outside the area and worked himself a yard before curling a shot off the post and wide.

That effort sparked the Seagulls into life after the hosts had made the brighter start, and Jenks drew Brandon Austin into a smart stop soon after.

The midfielder had spoken of his desire to become a leader both on and off the field this season, and he opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour.

Stefan Vukoje did well to find Alex Cochrane down the left, and the full-back cut the ball back for the arriving Jenks to sweep it home and get Albion up and running for the new campaign.

But no sooner had Rusk’s men taken the lead, they were pegged back a minute later as Sterling fired home from inside the area. 

By Tottenham Hotspur FC
Kazaiah Sterling equalises for Spurs.

The Spurs forward saw another effort from a similar position blocked, and goalkeeper Carl Rushworth was quick off his line to deny Jack Clarke at the back post and then foil Sterling once more. 

Rusk was forced into his first change when Romaric Yapi made way through injury and was replaced by Tanimowo 13 minutes before the interval. 

Albion fashioned two more chances between then and the break. 

Tanimowo’s first involvement saw him get into the area but put too much on his cross, before Vukoje fired wide after finding himself off balance. 

The Seagulls began the second half brightly and Tanimowo’s clever pass found Jenks running in behind. 

The goalscorer squared for Ben Wilson in the middle, but the referee waved away appeals for a penalty as the forward was bundled to the ground.

By Tottenham Hotspur
Peter Gwargis challenges for possession.

Wilson’s energy and pace caused problems for the home side.

He beat Austin to the ball as the home keeper raced off his line, but the hosts' defence covered the stopper’s tracks to spare his blushes ten minutes into the second half.

Rushworth then had to be at full stretch to deny Roles just after the hour mark to keep the scores level. 

Wilson produced another trademark run in behind with five left on the clock but fired agonisingly over the bar. 

There was to be one final chance for Albion when Danny Cashman curled high and wide in stoppage time. 

But the spoils were shared on the afternoon and there were plenty of good aspects to take into the side’s next game at home to Arsenal on Friday night. 

Albion line-up: Rushworth (GK); Yapi (Tanimowo 32), Dendoncker, Roberts (Furlong 59), Cochrane; Weir, Spong (Cashman 64), Gwargis, Jenks, Vukoje; Wilson. 

Subs not used: Desbois (GK), Leonard.