West Brom under-21s seal PL Cup progression with impressive away win as in-form prospect nets another double
Albion secured progression from the group stages of the Premier League Cup with a game to spare by winning at Exeter on Tuesday night.
Leigh Downing's youngsters can look forward to knockout action in the new year after the impressive 2-1 success at the League One club's St James Park home.
Albion prospect Souleyman Mandey continued his hot streak in front of goal with his side's two goals in the tie which ensured third-placed Exeter, who have played all of their fixtures, cannot catch Albion.
The first-half double took Austria youth international midfielder Mandey to five goals in his last seven appearances for the under-21s.
Mandey, who turns 20 in early February, has caught the eye with a more advanced midfield role at times this term. The former Rangers youngster has previously done well on loan at non-league neighbours Stourbridge and could be in line for another loan spell in the new year.
Albion under-21s have one more fixture left in the group stage at home to basement boys Luton at Alexander Stadium on Monday evening. A win would see Downing's side finish above leaders Brentford.
"I feel good," Mandey said. "Getting two goals to my tally is a really good feeling and to help the team progress to the round of 16.
"I'm glad I scored the two because we had a lot of chances where we didn't score.
"It was always the aim to progress out the group stage. We've still got another game to go (in the group) so that's what we will be focusing on. We can't let our guard down, we still want to win, that's the aim."
Defender and captain Evan Humphries and Mandey had already been denied by the Exeter goalkeeper before the Austrian converted a simple finish after being teed up by left-back Michael Parker on 19 minutes.
Mandey was in the thick of the action as another effort was saved before forward Justin Seven-Seven fired his rebound over.
But he was not to be denied a double and scored a second five minutes before the break in emphatic fashion with an unstoppable volley after the hosts could only half-clear a corner.
Goalkeeper Louis Brady was at his best to deny George Birch one-v-one after the interval and Albion youngster Torin Ntege was denied a third before the Grecians bagged a consolation in stoppage time.
Much like the side selected for the 5-1 defeat at Brentford previously, Downing used a squad mixed with under-21 regulars and under-18s, with the likes of Seven-Seven, Joel Asomugah and Shane Gompe starting and Reece Bastafield and Umar Sankoh entering as substitutes.
