PREVIEW: Manchester City Under-21s

28 August 2018

Marcus Braddock previews tonight's Checkatrade Trophy tie against Manchester City Under-21s

This evening, Manchester City under 21's in the Football League Trophy. It's our first game in the group stages and our group also includes Crewe Alexandra and Tranmere Rovers. City is one of 16 top-flight youth teams invited to join the 48 clubs from League One and League Two. The Blues must field an Under-21 side although two players over 21 will be allowed to play provided they have made more than 40 senior appearances.

The Coach

Paul Harsley joined the Blues from Barnsley, where he was coaching a similar role although he was briefly the Tykes’ caretaker manager earlier this year. His playing career saw him make 500 appearances for a number of clubs including Port Vale, Macclesfield Town and Scunthorpe United. He took the post after it was made vacant by Simon Davies who has become head of youth coaching.

Referee

Paul Marsden from Lancashire is in his first season as a football league referee, having officiated in the National League. Last season he gave 74 yellow cards and eight red cards in 21 appearances. This season he has been in charge three times and has given five yellow cards and no red cards.

Assistants - Christopher Husband and Steven Rushton.
Fourth Official - Christopher Sarginson.

Squad News

John Askey could make a few changes tonight to enable some of the players on the fringes get a little experience and show what they can offer.

This could be quite an interesting game, City have some top quality players in their youth set up and have so far won both of their league fixtures. A 6-5 win against Arsenal and a 6-4 win against West Ham. That's 21 goals in two games with Nabil Touaizi scoring a hat-trick in both! Having said that, this is “proper” football and by that I mean that the City players will be playing against experienced professional players with a bit of nous.

Don't forget that kick off is at 7pm this evening, not the usual 7.45 pm kick off time for evening games.

COYB!!!

Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT: Shrewsbury Town 1 Manchester City Under-21s 1 (3-1 Pens)

28 August 2018

Penalty shootout win gives Town two points in Checkatrade opener

Shrewsbury: Steve Arnold, Kieran Kennedy, Omar Beckles, Lee Angol (Lenell John-Lewis), Arthur Gnahoua (Charlie Colkett), Fejiri Okenabirhie, James Bolton (Ryan Haynes), Doug Loft, Luke Waterfall (C), Ollie Norburn, Ryan Barnett.

Subs: Joel Coleman, Ryan Haynes, Mat Sadler, Lenell John-Lewis, Alex Gilliead, Charlie Colkett, Josh Laurent.

Man City U21’s: Aro Muric, Colin Rosler, Cameron Humphreys (Joel Latibeaudiere), Nathanael Ogbeta, Tyreke Wilson (Alpha Diounkou), Claudio Gomes, Adrian Bernabe, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Rabbi Matondo, Nabil Touaizi, Benjamin Garre (Ian Poveda)

Subs: Tom Scott, Joel Latibeaudiere, Iker Pozo, Ian Poveda Taylor Richards, Alpha Diounkou, Keke Simmonds.

Referee: Paul Marsden.

Assistants: Christopher Husband and Steven Rushton.

Fourth Official: Christopher Sarginson.

Attendance: 1838 (85)

Shrewsbury Town started their Checkatrade Trophy campaign with a penalty shootout victory over Manchester City Under-21s, meaning they pick up two points. Lee Angol had put Town infront only for City to equalise from the spot in the 92nd minute. However, Town held their nerve in shootout.

Team News:

John Askey made Eight changes to his starting 11 after Saturday’s defeat to Luton.

First Half:

6th minute, Ryan Barnett gets a ball slipped through by Gnahoua, he is 1 on 1 with the keeper, has a left footed low shot but is saved. The keeper is almost on the 18 yard line and Loft tries to take a shot over the keeper but a diving save from Muric keeps the game at 0-0.

Man City kept playing out from the back and kept getting caught out. Town were hot on their heels and made several interceptions to put pressure on their box.

City started to thread some worrying balls through the back four to put Shrewsbury under pressure. Town stayed strong and matched their runs.

28th Minute Barnett stands out again as he turned the Man City left back and made a fantastic run down the line, he then held the ball up allowing Bolton to whip in a cross. City frantically managed to clear the ball out for a corner.

Loft switched the ball to Barnett who controlled it beautifully. He then crossed the ball and Beckles met it 6 yards from the goal. The ball found its way safely in Muric’s hands.

Man City looked dangerous on the counter attack. Rabbi Matondo showed Town his blistering pace as he brushed past two players. Beckles was there to block the shot.

The first half came to an end. Both teams were unable to score. Town had the most notable chances but were unable to convert. Ryan Barnett was at the heart of towns creativity.

Second Half:

Town started the half brightly with a superb chance. Barnett whipped another ball in from outside of the box. Lee Angol managed to head to ball just over the cross bar from 6 yards.

50th minute. The deadlock is broken. Town won a corner. The ball is lofted into the box. Luke Waterfall brought it down, he then passed it short to Lee Angol who turned and tucked it away into the bottom left of the goal.

60th minute, Town won another corner. Loft put it in and Luke Waterfall was there to meet it again. The ball looked to be heading into the top right corner but Muric met the ball comfortably.

City again looked dangerous on the counter attack. A quick break down the line from Diounkou ended up in a corner. Town dealt well with the resulting cross.

Town looked to be back in the ascendancy with a large amount of possession. The build up play ended with a 35 yard strike from Loft that went wide of the goal.

87th minute, Adrian Bernabe opened fire on the Town goal from 35 yards. The ball was driven low and hard just right of the goal. The only real chance City created all half.

In the 90th minute Haynes brought down Diounkou in the box and City were awarded a penalty. Touaizi stepped up to spot and placed the ball low into the right hand side of the goal with Arnold diving the other way.

Town then responded quickly earning themselves a corner. The ball was met by Waterfall who headed it to Okenabirhie who slotted it past Muric but was flagged offside.

At 1-1 the game headed to penalties:

Okenabirhie - Saved right

Touaizi - Saved left

Lenell - Scored bottom left

Bernabe - save to post

Loft - missed post

Matondo- scored top right

Norburn - Bottom left

Dele -Bashiru -Missed cross bar

Charlie Colkett - scored left

Town won 3-1.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Ticket News for Manchester City U21s

26 August 2018

Special prices for City's Checkatrade visit

Shrewsbury Town v Manchester City Under-21s
Tuesday 28th August - 7pm kick-off
Montgomery Waters Meadow
Checkatrade Trophy Northern Group D

Shrewsbury Town are pleased to confirm the date for their Checkatrade Trophy group game against Manchester City Under-21s.

The game will take place on Tuesday 28th August with a 7pm kick-off at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Prices for the game will be as follows:

Adults - £5

Concessions - £1

As per last season, for group matches only the Roland Wycherley East Stand and DM Recruitment North Stand will be open for these games.

Due to ongoing discussions with TicketMaster the 'Add To Fancard' option has been removed. Any FanCard or Season Ticket holder who purchases a ticket will have a physical ticket printed for them, or you can use the print at home option.

Tickets can be purchased in the following ways:
•    In person at the Montgomery Waters Meadow ticket office
•    By calling 01743 273943
•    Via our online ticketing site - click here

Tickets bought online can be printed at home and scanned for stadium entry.

When buying online the following costs apply-

Print at Home = Free
Collect from STFC = Free
Standard post = £2.60
Special Delivery = £9.00

There are several options for the game if you would like to sample our matchday hospitality, you can see this here - Matchday Hospitality - or contact our Commercial team here - commercial@shrewsburytown.co.uk

If you can't make it to the game you can listen to full match commentary, or watch the game if you are an International fan, on IFollow Shrews or download the app here to listen if you are out and about - IFollow App.

Travel - There are a number of matchday buses from around the county and buses from town centre, details here Matchday Travel Plan. There a number of parking options in and around the stadium, these can be viewed here Matchday Parking Options.

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