'They are starting to really show...' West Brom youngsters earn praise after thrilling win
Proud boss Leigh Downing was buoyed to see further evidence of his under-21 side hitting their straps with a comeback victory away to National League opposition.
Albion's youngsters claimed a first ever victory in the National League Cup at their seventh attempt with a thrilling 3-2 success at Braintree Town in Essex on Tuesday night.
Substitute winger Miller McDonald was the stoppage-time match-winning hero after Downing's youngsters had twice fought from behind through midfielder Souleyman Mandey and defender Jamal Mohammed.
Boss Downing, whose side are now unbeaten in four including their first two wins of the season, feels he is beginning to see a consistency in the squad, throughout bench options and even further down the ranks with a regular cohort of under-18s featuring.
"From the start of the season to where the boys are now - the consistency in their performance levels, they are starting to really show what it needs to look like both with and without the ball," Downing told the Express & Star.
"Hopefully they continue to take this on further in the other upcoming games that we've got.
"It was pleasing because we were quite a young side. We had four under-18s start the game and then it was nice that the boys who come off the bench made an impact.
"Miller gets the winning goal and you need that sometimes, that impact to come off the bench, even though you're disappointed not to start you still come on and take that opportunity and the subs did that."
Austrian midfielder Mandey won the ball back and converted a cool finish 10 minutes before half-time to bring Albion level.
Having fallen behind again just after the interval, powerful defender Mohammed lifted a finish into the roof of the net from a free-kick after the hour.
Adventurous centre-back Mohammed played a key role in the stoppage-time winner converted by sub McDonald. The former exchanged passes having galloped forward and his cross was perfect for McDonald to ensure another penalty shootout was not required.
Under-18 starters in Essex included versatile full-back Alfie Maughan, tenacious midfielder Matty Crowther, attacking midfielder Rio Parmar and striker Jaiden Francis-Caesar.
Albion had previously lost to step five opposition Forest Green - which played a part in a loan move for Harry Whitwell - and Boreham Wood this term. There were four defeats from four - two on penalties - in last season's first iteration of the competition.
Downing added: "At the start of the competition the National League Cup and the International Cup were two of the competitions that hold more weight for our players in terms of the experiences they get from these nights.
"Because you look at the game where Harry Whitwell played against Forest Green and ultimately he gets a loan move off the back of performing well.
"So the boys were aware of that and from last season's campaign - having the exposure to it but not getting a positive result - it was always on our minds. So to finally win a game in 90 minutes in the competition was a great feeling. To get it in the last minute makes it feel even better."
Downing's youngsters host Reading in the Premier League 2 at Solihull Moors on Friday night (7pm) before their third continental International Cup tie next Wednesday against German visitors Borussia Monchengladbach at Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr (7pm).
