Match Review: Aston Villa U21s 4 Boro U21s 0

A 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa U21s means Boro U21s are still searching for a first PL2 win of 2024.

After an even first 45, Villa's clinical nature proved the difference and the young Teessiders were left shellshocked by a quickfire double upon the restart. 

Returning to the second city after a 4-0 triumph at Birmingham last Monday, lead coach Mark Tinkler enacted three changes to the side that won convincingly in the Premier League Cup - Fenton John, George Gitau and Daniel Nkrumah all drafted into the starting XI.

The two league fixtures between Boro U21s and Villa U21s produced a combined 11 goals last term, but the early stages saw a stop-start encounter with several niggly fouls halting the flow of the game.

The clearest sight of goal for both came via set-pieces. From a corner, James Wright produced a fine save after Jack Hannah’s header was furthered towards goal by Oliver Samuels.

And, at the other end, some alert defending saw George Gitau clear off the line as Villa swung in from the quadrant.

The patchy nature continued with an injury concern to Nkrumah but, upon the restart, the forward latched onto Yacou Traore’s pinpoint pass to slide in at the near post – the tightest of offside calls keeping the scoreline goalless.

Villa might’ve broken the deadlock themselves before the interval. Shea Connor made a string of smart stops to twice deny Kobei Moore and Hannah’s vital touch ensured Kadan Young fired into the side-netting with the final chance of the half.

Yet, a whirlwind opening five minutes would see Villa strike twice upon the resumption of play to put clear daylight between the sides.

With the first attack of the second period, Moore stabbed in from underneath the crossbar - Connor had made a superb save to keep out Travis Patterson initially but could do nothing about the follow-up.

And Patterson made amends minutes later to double the host's advantage, slotting into the corner from inside the 18-yard box.

Tinkler responded by making his first alteration, 17-year-old Charlie Lennon entering the fray for his first U21s outing of the campaign - though the Villan's ruthlessness continued, Jamaldeen Jimoh adding a third on 65 minutes.

The young Teessiders kept vying for a route back into the contest. Law McCabe's acrobatic attempt would have been a goal-of-the-month contender had it landed and Fenton John blazed over after a neat passage of play.

But it was Villa who scored next to wrap up the victory in stoppage time, Jimoh bagging his second of the evening.