Development Squad beat Aston Villa 3-2

Monday night saw a superb 3-2 home win for Bolton Wanderers' Under-21 side against Premier League outfit Aston Villa.

Manchester-born striker Zach Clough continued his good form for the Development Squadm scoring twice, ably assisted by fellow striker Conor Wilkinson.

Former Leicester central defender and Development Squad captain Cian Bolger opened the scoring with a first-half header.

Promising reports came from the game of the performances of Andy Kellett, Clough, Wilkinson and Academy graduate Tom Youngs. Let us hope that any of this particular quartet can make the grade at pro level.

As reported earlier this month on Lion of Vienna Suite, Wanderers have taken Romanian left-back Stefan Popescu on trial. However, reports seemed to indicate that the 20yr old suffered as a result of a lack of first-team football lately.

Wanderers had former Ipswich goalkeeper Arran Lee Barratt to thank at times, as he made several good signings to keep Bolton in the lead.

Villa came into the game despite more good work from Lee Barratt, and Burke made it 3-1 towards the end of the game, before Robinson found the net as the game moved into injury time and was then denied by Lee Barratt who made a superb save with the last kick to give Wanderers the victory.

Bolton Wanderers: Arran Lee Barratt; Chris Lester, Cian Bolger, Rob Holding, Stefan Popescu; Georg Iliev, Luke Woodland, Andy Kellett; Tom Youngs, Conor Wilkinson, Zach Clough.

Subs: Knight 75 (for Iliev), Matthews 80 (for Popescu), Walker 87 (for Wilkinson)

Not used: Campbell, Kelly.

Aston Villa: Watkins; Webb, Donacien, Lewis, Kinsella; Johnson, Burke, Steiber, Sellars; O'Brien, Robinson.

Subs: Toner 8 (for Lewis), Green 70 (for Sellars) Abdo 70 (for O'Brien)

Not used: Grant, Strain.