Wolves Under-21s 0 Aston Villa Under-21s 1
A spirited second-half comeback from 10-man Wolves wasn't enough as Aston Villa edged a Premier League Under-21s Cup tie at AFC Telford United last night.
Villa controlled the first-half and were good value for Michael Drennan's 38thminute lead – even before the sending off of Wolves winger Eusebio Bancessi.
The Portuguese winger saw red for inexplicably attempting to headbutt Villa left-back Lewis Kinsella at a throw-in in the 20th minute.
Kinsella carved out two excellent early chances for the visitors. First his cross was volleyed wide by Leandro Bacuna at the far post, then Drennan fired wide, with only goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak to beat.
Villa remained in control and Jerrel Sellars saw a rising volley well held by Kuszczak, before Bacuna advanced to side-foot just wide from 20 yards.
The impressive Dominic Iorfa and the recalled Kortney Hause did well to keep Villa at bay, until the visitors took a deserved lead.
Left-winger Grealish, who ran the show in the first half, released Drennan, who managed to squeeze a low, acute-angled shot past Iorfa and Kuszczak and into the far corner.
But it was a different story after the break as Wolves, driven on by a determined display by Liam McAlinden, went all out to prove the old adage that it's harder to play against 10 men than 11.
Wolves, who brought on Connor Hunte for Keita at half-time, went desperately close to an equaliser on 52 when McAlinden's shot smacked against the base of the post, from Declan Weeks's cross.
McAlinden then sent Hunte through in a similar position, for another drive that went narrowly wide.
McAlinden then showed superb control and movement to bring down Ben O'Hanlon's pass and beat his man in one movement, before dragging his effort just off target.
In a rare second-half break, Sellars curled just over before Drennan was denied a second, when Kuszczak stuck out a hand to save after Grealish put him through.
