Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Salford Cityvs.Wolves U21s

sportsmole.co.uk, 10 November 2024, 23:46
League Two side Salford City are set to host Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s on Tuesday at Peninsula Stadium in their third EFL Trophy match of 2024-25.

Salford are last in fourth place in their group with no points and lost 2-1 against Wrexham on September 10, while the visitors are third with one point and were beaten 3-0 by Wrexham in their last outing in the competition in early October.

Match preview

The hosts' loss against Wrexham was a close affair, with both sides producing two big chances but William Boyle's 83rd-minute winner was enough to earn the Welsh side all three points.

In their last league game on Saturday, Salford were defeated 1-0 by Carlisle United, a match in which the Ammies created very little and succumbed to Benjamin Barclay's 88th-minute strike.

The result left them 13th in League Two with 20 points after 15 matchweeks, four points from seventh-placed Grimsby Town, who occupy the division's final promotion playoff spot.

To boss Karl Robinson's credit, his side's defeat against Carlisle was their first in their six most recent games in all competitions having won three and drawn two in that time.

Robinson's team have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven, though they did score 10 goals in those games.

Salford's home form is mixed considering they have lost three and emerged victorious in three of their last six matches at Peninsula Stadium.

Opponents Wolverhampton Wanderers-U21s were thoroughly outplayed by Wrexham during their 3-0 loss, with the League One side mustering three big chances while facing none themselves.

The visitors come into the clash having beaten Oldham Athletic on penalties after a 2-2 stalemate in the England National League Cup on November 6.

Under-21s striker Fletcher Holman scored twice and said in the aftermath of the shootout victory that he and his young teammates are learning and developing every day, noting the increased quality when facing professional first-team sides as opposed to games at academy level.

Wolves-U21s have triumphed in two of their last four games, drawing one and losing one, but they did succumb to defeat in three of the prior four matches.

The away side's record on the road is particularly concerning given they have lost nine of their last 11 away from home.

Salford City EFL Trophy form:

L

L

Salford City form (all competitions):

D

W

W

D

W

L

Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s EFL Trophy form:

L

L

Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s form (all competitions):

Team News

The home team could be without defenders Stephan Negru and James Chester, so expect Josh Austerfield, Curtis Tilt and Haji Mnoga to start in a back three.

Midfielders Kevin Berkoe, Ryan Watson, Dan Chesters and Hakeeb Adelakun could also be unavailable, and this may mean Ossama Ashley and Kelly N'Mai are selected to form a double pivot on Tuesday.

Matthew Lund could start in an advanced position behind strikers Kyrell Malcolm and Kylian Kouassi.

Meanwhile, Wolves-U21s goalkeeper Lewys Benjamin is likely to be protected by centre-backs Justin Hubner, Filozofe Mabete and Ojinnaka Temple.

In midfield, Harvey Griffiths and Luke Cundle may be flanked by wing-backs Wesley Okoduwa and Ethan Sutherland.

Matthew Whittingham could start in an attacking role behind a front two featuring Tom Edozie and Fletcher Holman.

Salford City possible starting lineup:

Young; Austerfield, Tilt, Mnoga; Garbutt, Ashley, N'Mai, Shephard; Lund; Malcolm, Kouassi

Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s possible starting lineup:

Benjamin; Hubner, Mabete, Temple; Okoduwa, Griffiths, Cundle, Sutherland; Whittingham; Edozie, Holman

We say: Salford City 3-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s

Given Salford's poor defensive record of late, it would be surprising if they kept a clean sheet.

Previews by email

Top News

22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal broke an English football record in their 5-1 Premier League thrashing of Crystal Palace on Saturday, but it came at a significant cost, as Bukayo Saka was taken off with a suspected hamstring problem in the first half. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku is allegedly generating interest from at least five clubs. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona reportedly remain fully behind head coach Hansi Flick despite the team's latest title setback against Atletico Madrid on Saturday night. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Southampton's new head coach Ivan Juric is one not to be messed with as his physical scrap with Torino's sporting director showed. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to pick up a third straight home win in the Primeira Liga, Vitoria de Guimaraes play host to Nacional at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques on Monday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly looking for the Red Devils to build a new scouting team in Portugal in a bid to unearth the next Cristiano Ronaldo. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is reportedly not interested in signing Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho during next summer's transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool must take advantage of Tottenham Hotspur's considerable weaknesses and will be confident of victory on Sunday according to Reds expert David Lynch. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Union Saint-Jean vs. Monaco (Sunday, 1.45pm) On Sunday, in a David vs. Goliath affair, Union Saint-Jean can pull off one of the biggest upsets in Coupe de France history when they take on Monaco in the round of 64 at Stadium de Toulouse. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gaziantep vs. Antalyaspor (Sunday, 10.30am) After their Turkish Cup victory in midweek, Gaziantep will now turn their attention to the Turkish Super Lig, with Antalyaspor visiting the Kalyon Stadyumu in Sunday's gameweek 17 encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Santa Clara vs. Braga (Sunday, 5.00pm) Still reeling from crashing out of the Taca de Portugal, Santa Clara return to action in the Primeira Liga when they play host to Braga at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta vs. Ajax (Sunday, 11.15am) Ajax will be looking to end the year on a high when they travel to Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel to take on a stuttering Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia vs. Alaves (Sunday, 1.00pm) Valencia will attempt to claim their third league when they welcome relegation rivals Alaves to Mestalla for Sunday's crucial La Liga encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma vs. Parma (Sunday, 11.30am) Both struggling in the bottom half of the Serie A standings, Roma and Parma will hope for an early Christmas gift when they meet at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk VfL Bochum vs. Heidenheim (Sunday, 2.30pm) In a relegation six-pointer, VfL Bochum will hope to defeat Heidenheim when they welcome them to Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Sunday in their 15th Bundesliga game of the season. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dundee Utd vs. Celtic (Sunday, 12.00pm) Celtic, looking to maintain their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership, will travel to Tannadice Park on Sunday afternoon to face Dundee United. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton vs. Chelsea (Sunday, 2.00pm) Chelsea have the chance to go top of the Premier League for a brief time at least when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk South American giants Palmeiras have reportedly sent an 'initial proposal' to Fulham for midfielder Andreas Pereira. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Nuno Espirito Santo will rival Arne Slot to win the Premier League's Manager of the Year award. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona want to sever ties with attacker Ansu Fati at the earliest opportunity in the January transfer window but the player is rebelling against a move, according to a report. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane has confirmed that he wants to remain at the Allianz Arena despite links with a return to the Premier League next year. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Serie A powerhouses Napoli have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Manchester United defender Harry Maguire on a free transfer next summer. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Sorloth scored a last-gasp winner as Atletico Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to go top of the La Liga table. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka has been seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches after sustaining a suspected hamstring problem in Saturday's 5-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have written a new page of English football history thanks to their 5-1 destruction of London rivals Crystal Palace in Saturday's Premier League derby. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round 17 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig will be wrapped up with a clash between two sides from the Marmara region, as Istanbul Basaksehir welcome Kasimpasa to the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu on Monday evening. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Leicester loan star Facundo Buonanotte wants to see a Tottenham forward join him so they can rekindle their partnership. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal's rivals will hate it but they can definitely claim London is red after their 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus continued his resurgence with two goals as the Gunners demolished Crystal Palace 5-1 in the Premier League at Selhurst Park.