Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney both played just over an hour as they stepped up their respective returns from injury in an entertaining game at Wolves on Friday.
Our Spanish right back has been out of action since January with a knee injury, while his fellow full-back is yet to play for us due to a groin issue he sustained at former club Celtic.
Both looked sharp here on a good run-out in the Midlands, and will no doubt feel that this is another big step as they look to return to first-team action.
We got off to the perfect start to this PL2 clash when Folarin Balogun broke free of the Wolves defence to coolly slot past Andreas Sondergaard inside the first minute.
Lewis Richards almost equalised minutes later when he met Oskar Buur’s low cross but his effort sailed over the bar.
Tyreece John-Jules and Trae Coyle both had efforts from the edge of the box but neither could direct a shot on target.
Balogun came close to doubling our advantage twice in a matter of minutes when his first effort was well saved by Sondergaard and his second flew over the bar.
Moments after the restart, Wolves should have been level when Richards flashed a ball across the face of goal - but Austin Samuels couldn’t get a touch on it from close range.
Karl Hein was then called into action when Taylor Perry hit a sweet effort goal towards goal but our goalkeeper produced a fine save.
Wolves’ pressure finally paid dividends when Bruno Jordao beat the offside trap to slot home in the 56th minute.
We re-took the lead when, after some pinball in the penalty area, the ball broke to Balogun who made no mistake from close range.
Deep into injury time, Taylor Perry snatched a point for the hosts as he scored from close range.
WHAT IT MEANS
We remain second in the Premier League 2 table behind Everton on goal difference.
WHAT’S NEXT
Steve Bould’s side face Liverpool on Saturday, September 28 at Meadow Park at 1pm (UK time)
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