Under-23s face down Blackburn Rovers

Michael Kenrick Friday, 9 April, 2021 24comments | Jump to most recent

Everton U23s 2 - 1 Blackburn Rovers U23s

Everton U23s got the better of in-form Blackburn with a 2-1 Premier League 2 win in Southport on Friday evening, with game streamed live on the Blues' official YouTube channel.

A relative young Everton line-up featured debuts at this level for Everton Academy graduates Lewis Warrington and Charlie Whitaker from the U18s, the latter marking his maiden appearance for David Unsworth's team with a goal just before the half-hour mark when he produced a cool finish from Josh Bowler's through ball to double the home side's advantage.

Everton were already 1-0 up at that point thanks to yet another goal for striker Nathan Broadhead and, despite a Con Ouzounidis own goal giving second-placed Blackburn hope before the break, the hosts held on for an impressive victory to move to within three points of Spurs in third spot.

Everton U23s: Tyrer [Y:91'], John, Small, Ouzounidis, Anderson, Price, Bowler (74' Cannon), Warrington, Broadhead (65' Mallon, Whitaker [Y:91'], Hughes.
Subs: Barrett, Welch, Butterfield.

Everton YouTube Channel

Reader Comments (24)

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Phill Thompson
1 Posted 09/04/2021 at 18:54:46

Lewis Warrington making his first start for the U23s tonight v Blackburn. It looks like a 4-2-3-1 formation with Warrington/ Isaac Price as the 2 as per Youth Cup.

Phill Thompson
2 Posted 09/04/2021 at 18:56:07

Josh Bowler, returns from injury, it may be Charlie Whitaker's first start too, Small at left back so another young team.

Brent Stephens
3 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:21:49

Nice Broadhead goal.

Phill Thompson
4 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:22:23

Bowler combines with Broadhead who fires it home from the right with his right foot into bottom corner. 1-0

Dennis Stevens
5 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:25:34

I seem to be 2 or 3 minutes behind

Phill Thompson
6 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:30:43

2-0 Whitaker, nicely taken .

Bowler the provider again.

Brent Stephens
7 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:32:04

Like the look of Whittaker. And he scores.

Michael Lynch
8 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:33:00

Bowler looks like a man amongst boys here tonight. Not sure if he's got what it takes for PL football, but he really stand out at this level! That's two assists now, and the second was a beautifully weighted ball

Michael Lynch
9 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:35:20

Terrible defending there 2-1

Phill Thompson
10 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:35:38

Oops mistake from Price giving ball away. 2-1

Michael Lynch
11 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:39:21

Wouldn't mind a Bowler and Broadhead partnership against Brighton with DCL and RIchie rested

Phill Thompson
12 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:46:24

Bowler is picking up where he left off before his pre Christmas injury. He was our best player at U23s then and presumably would have been on loan if he hadn't been injured.

Brent Stephens
13 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:48:03

And Bowler is comfortable left or right, Phill?

Phill Thompson
14 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:48:28

Half time and 2-1 probably a fair reflection of an entertaining first half, though Blackburn could have scored another.

Phill Thompson
15 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:50:11

Brent, at his best Bowler is very much a left footer playing on the right, cutting inside, shooting, but he can cross with his right too.

Tony Abrahams
16 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:53:43

Whitaker has maybe got a similar style to a young Adrien Heath, Brent? High praise, and also maybe a bit premature considering I've only watched him once or twice, but he does take up good positions, although it's also easy to forget just how good Heath was, before he was clobbered by Marwood.

Danny Oâ€™Neill
17 Posted 09/04/2021 at 19:59:30

Not watching tonight but seeing good reports about Warrington?

Phill Thompson
18 Posted 09/04/2021 at 20:00:57

I can't remember his stats but Whitaker id say is 2nd top goalscorer behind Cannon at u18 s., he's got about 6 Goals I think.

Brent Stephens
19 Posted 09/04/2021 at 20:01:28

Tony yes there is a similarity!

Robert Tressell
20 Posted 09/04/2021 at 20:44:23

Lewis Warrington reminds me a bit of Tony Grant. I always thought Grant might have made more appearances for us but he didn't quite kick on to that next level.

Frank Wade
21 Posted 09/04/2021 at 20:56:35

Thankfully a win for Everton. We don't see enough these days.

Phill Thompson
22 Posted 09/04/2021 at 20:57:15

Well I enjoyed that, I thought our midfielders played very well, particularly Whitaker and Warrington. A good all round performance that.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]
23 Posted 09/04/2021 at 21:15:38

A thoroughly entertaining game.

Two incisive breakaway goals by Everton, well finished.

Isaac Price a little casual on the ball to cough up possession and let them in to pull a soft goal back before half-time. He bust a gut to reddem his error, but couldn't help clear the resulting ball off the line.

Some really lovely football played through the midfield and wide at times with Warrington at the base, Price, Whittaker and Hughes playing it through and Broadhead and Bowler being a handful up front.

John much better on the night than Small as an overlapping full-back.

Nice to see how much Warrington likes a tackle AND know how to make one.

Only Blackburn's 4th defeat of the season, second only behind City. Good win.

Dennis Stevens
24 Posted 09/04/2021 at 21:23:29

Thoroughly enjoyable match that, & not just because Everton won.

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