Comeback Win For U21s at Wolves
Saturday, 7th Feb 2026 16:38

Town’s U21s staged a remarkable comeback to win 4-3 against Wolverhampton Wanderers in Premier League 2 at their Compton Park training ground this afternoon.

John McGreal and Chris Casement’s side, which featured new signing Nick Bilokapic in goal, were 2-0 down after six minutes via two Dani Angel goals.

But Leon Ayinde pulled one back on nine with his third goal in three games, before the home side restored their two-goal advantage through Enso Gonzalez.

Tudor Mendel made the scoreline 3-2 on 33, completing the first-half goalscoring.

And in the second the Blues completed a turnaround, Tommy Taylor levelling on 66 and sub Josh Pitts winning it 11 minutes from time.

Town introduced new signing Ryan Doherty from the bench, the 17-year-old midfielder having signed from Stevenage in midweek, while Gerrard Buabo made his first appearance of the season from the bench having been sidelined with injury.

Town: Bilokapic, Elliott, Boniface, Mthunzi, Shabazz-Edwards, Turner, Mendel, Carr (c) (Doherty 23), Fletcher (Buabo 80), Taylor, Ayinde (Pitts 71). Unused: Bentley, Lewis.

Photo: TWTD

Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.

Page:
1

armchaircritic59 added 17:45 - Feb 7 A good day allround, well done lads. Hopefully another one tomorrow!
1

BotesdaleBlue added 17:46 - Feb 7 Buabo made his first team debut for us back in Sept 2022. Good luck to the lad, but surprising in a way he is still at the club.
-1

Suffolkunited1983 added 18:51 - Feb 7

At what point are we going to realise our u21s are always way older than the opposition standard in this league and stop celebrating it? Acting like we’re doing a good job. None of these lads getting into our first team and failed to get them out to league football in January. Looks like we only value winning at all costs rather than developing younger talent.
Would like to know if it’s the academy leadership or mcgreal not pushing the better younger ones. Mcgreal has a history of not trusting young players as 21s coach from what I’m hearing.

-8

armchaircritic59 added 19:03 - Feb 7

Suffolkunited, well we have lost the 3 most experienced of them all, Humphreys, Baggott and Barbrook were playing for them until a few weeks ago. Quite a number of U21 teams use " overage " players. Unfortunately due to one of the most short sighted decisions ever by the powers that be, who did away with reserve team football, there is now no natural bridge between youth team and first team football. Also of course there is nowhere to go for a first team player needing to play his way back from injury. Gross stupidity in my opinion.

Brogan55 added 19:27 - Feb 7 Suffolk united1983,Until the Americans put money into the Club the Youth policy was worst than the first team.It takes years to develop so one way is to get players in and build a winning mentality.Then every year we can start to do what Robson’s did.That was harsh about Mcgreal.I think most people can understand what is happening.Why this negativity?
4

armchaircritic59 added 19:36 - Feb 7 Brogan55, I think there must be a " need something to moan about " gene in existence. Nothing much to moan about from this afternoon, so someone has to take some flack!
3

Suffolkunited1983 added 22:03 - Feb 7

Humphreys and baggot are 22/23 years old which is exactly the point being made. Elite and average academies have 15-17 year olds in their first team and we can’t even push one or two players into a 21s game. Embarrassing you’re defending mediocre management or alignment as I’m simply asking to whether it’s the coach or the leadership group allowing this. If we don’t expose players to challenge we’re pissing in the wind it’s just basic football knowledge. As I’ve said on a previous post I’ve been told the coaches are very good at the older ages just let them work with players earlier so we can actually celebrate a home grown player and not just winning cheap games.

armchaircritic59 added 23:50 - Feb 7

Suffolkunited, I certainly wouldn't defend mediocre management. It may just simply be that non of those have proved good enough to play regularly at Championship ( or higher ) level, and that would be the fault of whoever it was that brought the players to the club in the first place. I never blame players at any level who don't meet whatever the requirements are, just those that are responsible for bringing them here. Even Pep couldn't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

Brogan55 added 08:58 - Feb 8

Knowing Kieran’s history training the youngster at Tottenham and Man Utd,I feel that we have a manager who knows the true value of bringing them through to the first team.Unfortunately,as I stated,we have not had the set up ,with the great improvement at Playford Road I am sure in the next few years we will have the youth coming through.To say we are “pissing in the wind” and winning “cheap games”is wide of the mark.If you look at Norwich,over the the years when we were in the doldrums they were the place to go in the region.Ashton has remarked that he now wants to poach youngsters from all over region.That takes time.I am the looking forward to seeing a youngster come through the system.Then all the hard work over the years will be rewarded.

WeWereZombies added 14:23 - Feb 8 Tudor Meddel is a busy player, isn't he ? Giving the Wolves midfield a torrid time with the first this way and then that way then back again, pass receive and a bit more this way, that way and tidy shot...second goal.
1

VILJOEN67 added 16:22 - Feb 9 Its Premier league two now so the standard is higher. The policy is to loan out the fringe and better academy players. Lots of the younger ones are getting senior football in non league to get experience of men's football. The policy seems pretty sensible to me.
0