Checkatrade Trophy: Wolves U21s 4 Accrington Stanley 0 - Report

Just 547 turned up on a cold a rainy evening - but those who did were treated to an impressive footballing display by Wolves' youngsters, writes Tim Spiers.

First-half goals from Christian Herc, Donovan Wilson and Connor Ronan put Scott Sellars' team in charge at half time.

Bright Enobakhare added a fourth after the break and Wolves were rarely troubled at the other end in what was a complete performance.

They finish Group B with six points and will be in the draw for the last 32 of the competition, which takes place on Thursday evening at 10.30pm.

Analysis

It's a competition that's been derided by many - but you won't hear any dissenting voices at the Wolves academy.

Supporters, managers, players and officials up and down the land have criticised the admittedly fatally flawed format of the Checkatrade Trophy.

And the fact just 547 turned up at Molineux to witness this shows you that the imagination of the Wolverhampton public hasn't exactly been captured by it.

To put that attendance into context, 604 watched Wolves U23s beat Albion U23s at Molineux in August. There were crowds of 950 and 963 for their two other group games, away at Chesterfield and Crewe respectively.

But for the young players on show here, and in those two other matches, it's been an invaluable experience.

Scott Sellars fielded his youngest side of the competition so far, with so senior players selected (Nouha Dicko, Jed Wallace, Andy Lonergan and even Silvio had featured in previous games) - but you wouldn't have guessed it from the manner in which they dismantled League Two side Accrington.

The visitors' fielded half of their first-team, with former Premier League players Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Chris Eagles involved from the start and the bench respectively.

Wolves, though, were totally dominant and played some excellent, fast, free-flowing football on the floor.

Sellars band of youngsters have been together for a couple of years now and are thriving. He'd guided them to second in the Under-23 Premier League 2 table and on this showing you'd fancy them to progress deep into this competition.

Captain Conor Ronan, who rarely fails to impressed, pulled the strings here with his usual composed presence in midfield, while Will Randall and Donovan Wilson added trickery and creativity from the flanks.

Christian Herc continues to impress in midfield, England youth international Morgan Gibbs-White hinted at why he's so highly regarded with a lively showing up front, and Bright Enobakhare was his usual bag of tricks, flicks and magic in the number 10 role.

With Harry Burgoyne stopping everything that was thrown at him in goal, and a back four of Aaron Simpson, Regan Upton, Connor Johnson and Sylvain Deslandes solid throughout, Wolves were very deserving winners.

The Checkatrade Trophy won't be fondly remembered by many people this year, but for Wolves it might just be the competition that saw Sellars' exciting and hugely promising band of youngsters come of age.

Key moments

17 - GOAL - Christian Herc brings down Connor Ronan's pass, takes a touch and sidefoots past the keeper from close range. A tidy finish.

19 - Jordan Clarke is in a good position for Accrington but Harry Burgoyne denies him with a solid save.

24 - Bright Enobakhare goes close twice in a minute. First a jinking run ends with a shot into the side netting, then he forces keeper Aaron Chapman into a smart stop after some more quick feet.

28 - Morgan Gibbs-White wriggles free before shooting just wide from inside the box.

37 - GOAL - It's 2-0 Wolves. A corner drops to Donovan Wilson and he fires home.

45 - GOAL - Gibbs-White is too good for the Accrington defence and draws a foul in the box. Captain Ronan steps up to beat the keeper into the corner.

49 - Wilson's shot takes a deflection and Chapman is forced into a great save low to his left.

52 - The dangerous Wilson now shoots into the side netting from a tight angle.

67 - GOAL - Enobakhare embarks on another jinking run, cutting in from the right, and finishes off the tie with a low finish past the keeper.

Teams

Wolves (4-2-3-1): Burgoyne; Simpson, Upton,Johnson (Breslin, 63), Deslandes; Ronan, Herc; Wilson (Delacoe, 78), Enobakhare, Randall (Carnat, 81); Gibbs-White. Subs: Beasley, Odoffin, Levingston, Finnie.

Goals: Herc (18), Wilson (37), Ronan (45, pen), Enobakhare (67)

Accrington Stanley: Chapman, Pearson, Hughes, Clark, McConville, Taylor-Fletcher, Lacey, Hewitt, Sykes, Connelly, Kee. Subs: Parish, Davies, Beckles, Gornell, Boco, Ogle, Eagles.

Attendance: 547

Referee: David Webb