We’ll be hoping to maintain our unbeaten start to 2020 as we travel to Everton on Monday night.
THE STORY SO FAR
We returned from the winter break and produced a fine comeback to draw 2-2 with Derby County at Meadow Park last time out.
Jahmal Hector-Ingram gave the Rams the lead after 41 minutes when he was brought down inside the box, then calmly slotted the penalty past Karl Hein.
The Derby forward then handed the visitors a two-goal lead shortly after half-time when he received the ball in the box and fired low into the net.
Sam Greenwood was introduced from the bench with 10 minutes remaining and made an instant impact when he latched on to a loose ball inside the box and scored.
In the closing stages, we grabbed an equaliser when Matt Smith’s strike hit the post but rebounded off a Derby defender before finding the back of the net.
We currently sit fourth in the Premier League 2 table.
THE OPPOSITION
The reigning champions have made an inconsistent start to the season, sitting sixth in the table.
Despite mixed results, they underlined their quality by thrashing Southampton 8-2 earlier in the season, with Anthony Gordon, Matthew Foulds, Harry Charsley, Alex Denny, Antony Evans, Morgan Feeney and Manasse Mampala on the scoresheet.
The hosts have only won once in their previous seven PL2 matches and in the reverse fixture at Emirates Stadium, Gordon scored another brace, including a late equaliser to hand Everton a point on the road.
ONE TO WATCH
Greenwood came off the bench and scored his first Premier League 2 goal in the comeback against Derby.
The 17-year-old has impressed in his cameo appearances at under-23 level so far this season and, after featuring prominently for our under-18s, he’s in line for more appearances for Steve Bould’s side.
Greenwood is a set-piece specialist and this was highlighted when he scored a fine 25-yard free-kick against Chelsea under-18s.
After the draw against Derby, Bould said: “It’s great for him, he’s going to be the future for us in the long term, hopefully. It’s great when a young kid comes on and scores with his first touch. We had nothing to lose at the time and he changed the game.”
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By Sam Cox
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