View: Three things learned from Aston Villa Under-21s stunning 4-0 victory v West Brom
Aston Villa Under-21s ran riot in their 4-0 win against close rivals West Brom on Friday night to make it four wins on the bounce in the Premier League 2.
A strong team was named by Development coach Tony Carss, with the likes of Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Hayden Linley and Arjan Raikhy all given the nod from the first whistle.
Brad Young’s brace and goals for Tommi O’Reilly and Raikhy capped off a stunning display of attacking football and left the young Villans just two behind the Baggies in the table in the final playoff spot.
Here are three things we learned from the impressive win and clean sheet on Friday night (27 January).
Kesler-Hayden needs Championship loan
Kesler Hayden was a cut above the rest all night and reinforced his need for a Championship loan in the second half of the season.
Starting at right-back, the 20-year-old was given an abundance of space to roam free in attack, and it was clear he was full of confidence following his short but sweet loan stint at Huddersfield Town.
The full-back wasn’t ever afraid to offer himself on the overlap and was full of trickery and pace when getting into crossing positions in the final third.
Sources close to Planet Swans (Friday 27 January) have reported that Kesler-Hayden is one of the players Swansea have identified as a potential addition in the closing days of the transfer window, and Villa must oblige.
The youngster won’t learn anything from games such as this, and with Ashley Young and Matty Cash firmly planted as Unai Emery’s first-team right-backs, he is unlikely to get any serious action at Villa Park this season.
O’Reilly dazzles
O’Reilly simply ran the show all night long and once again proved his undoubted quality.
His goal was a tad fortunate, granted, as his long-range shot flew off goalkeeper Josh Griffiths, who impressively bundled the ball into his own net after just three minutes.
However, there was no doubting his brilliant role in Villa’s second goal of the night. After ghosting past two Baggies defenders with some neat footwork, the 19-year-old teed up Young to make it 2-0.
His recent form is definitely making sure he lives up to his nickname as the “little Phil Foden” within the Bodymoor Heath corridors of power, and he oozed class in Friday night’s rout.
Playoff credentials
The Young Lions are well and truly flying in the Premier League 2 Division 2 lately, as they reversed Albion’s 6-2 victory at Villa Park in quite spectacular fashion.
The result pushed Carss’ side up to sixth in the table and just two points behind their bitter rivals in fifth. Consecutive wins over Derby County, Norwich City, Newcastle and now West Brom have left Villa as the form side in the division, and it seems like a playoff is inevitable if they continue this recent brilliance.
Aston Villa Under-21s have now scored in each of their last 12 appearances in all competitions, and with the likes of Young, Declan Frith and Arjan Raikhy regulars in attack, the Under-21s now possess the capability to sting any side in the division with their lightning attacking play.
A crunch encounter against league high-flyers Leeds awaits in just over a fortnight, and this could well play a huge part in the success by the end of the season.
In other Aston Villa news, James Maddison is one to watch for the Villans in their next game.