Report: Bristol City U23s 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday U23s

Wednesday, November 11th 2020

A Sam Bell penalty couldn’t deny Sheffield Wednesday from picking up the three points in Weston-super-Mare as the Owls struck with a later winner.

Korede Adedoyin was played in and kept his cool to beat Harvey Wiles-Richards as the visitors raced into a fourth-minute lead.

Wednesday looked dangerous from the off, and hit the post moments later in this lively North Somerset encounter.

Bristol City’s Under-23s had only lost once this season and were seeking a third-game unbeaten, so with confidence high they naturally battled back into the Professional Development League fixture.

Midfielder Josh Owers was the first to test Owls keeper Luke Jackson with a low free kick, before Sam Pearson flashed a shot across the face of goal.

Pearson then saw a penalty appeal dismissed but the referee would point to the spot soon after when Vince Harper was nudged in the back. Bell stepped up to dispatch from 12 yards as City drew level before the break.

Both sides competed well in the second half and had their keepers to thank for keeping the score at 1-1. Wiles-Richards produced a double save to deny Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, while Jackson intercepted Bell’s low cross, when his strike partner Tommy Conway was ready to pounce.

Zak Smith drilled a ferocious shot wide and when Jackson spilled a Pearson shot, Conway couldn’t turn the rebound on target. The youngster would have another opportunity to put the Robins ahead, but his glancing header was wide.

And City would kick themselves for those missed opportunities as Owls substitute Ben Hughes would lob Wiles-Richards with ten minutes to go. Harper tried his best but couldn’t stop the ball on the goalline, as Wednesday held on to earn their second win of the season.

Next for Alex Ball’s side is a home game against Ipswich Town Under-23s (Tuesday, November 24th, 1pm KO).