West Bromwich Albion Training Ground

Sunday 1st September 2024 -  12:00
WBA
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Stoke
Stream on WBA TV
Key Events

A photo of Albion PL2 boss Richard Beale

Albion’s PL2 team face Stoke City on Sunday afternoon. 

After consecutive defeats, Richard Beale’s team go into this weekend’s match with a point to prove as they target progression at both ends of the pitch.

A photo of Albion PL2 boss Richard Beale managing training at the club's training ground
Richard Beale directing U21s training

Last time out

The young Baggies went down to ten men in their most recent outing, losing 4-0 to Brighton at their Walsall training base. 

Muhamed Diomande’s first-half dismissal proved costly, as the Seagulls ran out comfortable winners. 

Venue

Albion will host the Potters behind closed doors at the West Bromwich Albion Training Ground. 

Mannequins in an Albion training session

Pre-match thoughts

Harry Whitwell, who recently penned a new contract with the club, believes the young Baggies must start showing “fight” in the difficult moments if they’re to learn from recent losses and get their first win of the campaign on Sunday. 

He said: “Against Brighton we were really good in the first half, but then we got a man sent off and didn’t quite recover from it. 

“So as a collective, we need to show a bit more leadership and togetherness when the going gets tough. 

“We’re a reasonably young group and with a lot of the senior 21s moving on, that responsibility falls onto us younger lads now to step up and make sure that even if we go a goal down, we show a bit of fight.” 

A photo of Harry Whitwell in an U21 training session
Harry Whitwell in training

How to follow

Tickets will be unavailable for Sunday’s behind closed doors Premier League 2 game against Stoke.

Due to the clash being moved to the club’s training ground, we are unable to provide a live stream for the game. 

Devante Cole smiling while wearing a club tracksuit

Senior trio Devante Cole, Callum Styles and Gianluca Frabotta all earned valuable match minutes on Sunday afternoon as Albion's PL2 team defeated Stoke City 5-0.

Cole bagged a brace, notching the Baggies' second and final strikes, with Harry Whitwell also hitting the net twice.

Frabotta was also on target, finding the bottom corner from distance with a fantastic free-kick. 

Cole and Frabotta completed the full 90, while Styles played just over an hour. 

Harry Whitwell in action for Albion's PL2 team in the home kit
Teenage midfielder Harry Whitwell bagged a brace against the Potters

The first effort of the encounter came courtesy of Styles, who stung the top of the crossbar from a well-struck free-kick from 25 yards ten minutes in.

Richard Beale's side dominated the opening stages and deservedly went ahead when Whitwell won the ball back high up the pitch, drove towards goal and found Cole. The forward's effort was blocked, but Whitwell was on hand to rustle the net with the outside of his boot from six yards. 

Less than 90 seconds later in was 2-0. Cole picked up the ball on the left side of the box and curled a beauty into the top corner. 

Whitwell could've made it 3-0 before the break, but he fired over from the edge of the area. 

Gianluca Frabotta waving to Albion fans at The Hawthorns in the home kit
Gianluca Frabotta scored a super free-kick on Sunday

The hosts wasted no time in extending their advantage after the interval. Frabotta's free-kick from around 27-yards flew into the bottom corner in the 50th minute, leaving Stoke stopper Noah Cooper with no chance.

The Potters wasted two good opportunities to get back into the match before the hour. Will Smith's attempt was tipped over by Ted Cann and Dean Adekoya then nodded over with the goal gaping. 

Albion made it four with 19 minutes remaining. A ball played into the box from the right was delicately laid back to Whitwell on the edge of the box by Cole, and the midfielder crashed a shot beyond Cooper to put the result beyond doubt. 

The fifth and final goal arrived courtesy of Cole in added time. The striker waited for a cross from the right and the ball sat up perfectly for him to place it into the far corner from a few yards out. 

ALBION: Cann, Nelson, Richards, Shaw (Deeming 61), Frabotta, Styles (Iddrisa 61), Mfuamba, Whitwell, Heard (Sule 80), Cole, Higgins (Williams 70).

Subs: Cisse (GK).