https://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/09/ under-18-report--chelsea-3-southampton-1.html Under-18 report: Chelsea 3 Southampton 1 Sat 5 Sep 2015 Chelsea Under-18s continued their strong start to the season with a deserved home victory over Southampton this morning (Saturday). A goal in each half from Miro Muheim gave the hosts a two-goal advantage before Harley Willard's strike reduced the deficit. Yet the Blues remained bright and grabbed a third goal late on through Isaac Christie-Davies. There were six changes from the side that started in the youth team's last outing, a 1-1 draw away at Arsenal 12 days previously. The international break forced manager Joe Edwards into a number of those switches, with three of the back four coming into the team in the form of Cole Dasilva, Trevoh Chalobah and Richard Nartey. They joined captain Josh Grant in providing the protection for Nathan Baxter in goal, with Christie-Davies partnering Mukhtar Ali in midfield. Charlie Wakefield and Harvey St Clair started out wide, with Jacob Maddox operating in the number 10 midfield role. Muheim led the line up front. The Saints started brightly and striker Olufela Olomola forced a good early save from Baxter, while Archie Thomas's effort from distance proved comfortable for the Blues stopper moments later. The home side settled into the contest over the opening 15 minutes and began to exert their authority on the game, with Muheim touching Wakefield's teasing cross just wide and Wakefield striking just off-target. The lively St Clair was combining well with Maddox and the two interchanged to fashion a shot at goal for the latter, before Maddox was involved in the opener after 25 minutes. His shot from the edge of the box was palmed away by Harry Lewis in the Southampton goal, however Muehim was on hand to slot the loose ball into the empty net. The visitors responded well as both Willard and Olomola had efforts thwarted by Baxter, before Wakefield and Maddox were denied by Lewis down the other end as Edwards's team looked to extend their advantage. Tyreke Johnson's attempted lob was the final action of the first half, with Baxter keeping his focus and backpedalling well to pluck the looping ball out of the air. The action restarted in open fashion, with Maddox denied by a smart front-post save from Lewis before two moments of Chelsea excellence impacted the game in the hosts' favour. Southampton went close to levelling as Willard struck the post with a curling strike and it appeared like Stuart Wilkin would poke the rebound in, however Grant raced on to the scene and put in a brilliant last-ditch block that kept his side ahead. Almost instantly, the Blues went down the other end and doubled their lead as Muheim cut inside on to his left foot and unleashed a wonderful rising strike that flew into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. Wakefield fired over as the hosts caused real problems on the counter-attack, before the visitors reduced the deficit with 15 minutes remaining. Willard had been one of the brighter attacking sparks for Southampton and he picked the ball up on the right flank, cut inside and fizzed a swerving effort past Baxter and into the roof of the net. Yet the Blues remained calm and in control, with Ali's deflected effort bringing an excellent save from Lewis and then Christie-Davies restoring the two-goal lead late on with a neat finish following a clever back-heel from Ali. The victory makes it three wins and a draw from the opening four games for Edwards's side and eight games unbeaten, stretching back to the end of last season. == Manager reaction == After the game, Edwards reflected on another challenging morning's work and praised the standards set by the second-year scholars in the side. Speaking to the official Chelsea website, he said: 'This is the second home game of the season where we've had a real test. 'We've become used to games in the past where if you start well you can score a lot of goals and the second half becomes mainly about keeping your standards high but today was quite a cagey second half and we needed to show a strong mentality. 'That was the biggest positive for us and the second-years really led the line in that respect. Isaac Christie-Davies and Mukhtar Ali were excellent in midfield and of course Miro Muheim has not only got his goals but also shown a great work-rate playing in an unfamiliar position. The second-year performances and approach really helped the younger boys in what was probably the youngest team we've put out so far this season.' The manager (whose post-match interview with Chelsea TV can be viewed at the bottom of this article) also paid tribute to the defensive work of his team, both as a collective and individually, highlighting their eagerness to press the ball often as well as a number of moments where defenders were called into action. 'We've been speaking a lot about clean sheets and keeping our goals conceded down. That can be about how you defend as a team but at times it's also about needing your defenders to defend. Richard Nartey put in a brilliant last-ditch tackle in the first half and then there was Josh Grant's crucial block just before our second goal. 'We were unlucky not to get the clean sheet today but it's important for those defenders to recognise the part they played in us getting a good result.' The Under-18s return to action next weekend when they travel to Leicester City in the Under-18 Premier League on Saturday 12 September. Before then, Adi Viveash's Under-21s begin their Premier League International Cup campaign at home to Liverpool on Friday 11 September. The game is being played at Aldershot Town, with kick-off at 7.05pm. Meanwhile, ticket details have been announced for our Under-21 Premier League home game against Reading. It will be played at Stamford Bridge on Friday 25 September, with tickets currently available online now. Chelsea Nathan Baxter Trevoh Chalobah Josh Grant (c) Richard Nartey Cole Dasilva Isaac Christie-Davies Mukhtar Ali Charlie Wakefield Jacob Maddox Harvey St Clair (Malakai Hinckson-Mars 87) (Dan Kemp 64) (Luke McCormick 77) Miro Muheim Unused subs - Jared Thompson Scorer - Muheim 25, 56; Christie-Davies 85 Booking - Muheim Southampton Harry Lewis, Richard Bakary, Ben Cull, Joe Lea, Ollie Cook, Alfie Jones, Harley Willard, Archie Thomas (Dan Nlundu 64), Olufela Olomola, Stuart Wilkin (Dave Musendo 84), Tyreke Johnson (Carel Kayembe h/t) Unused subs - Jake Hallett, Ben Rowthorn Scorer - Willard 74 Booking - Bakary Pictures courtesy of Mark Sandom. -- 以伊露維塔的名為證發誓 — 若有誰敢奪取屬於我們的藍色之心，不論對方是天使、惡魔、男人或女人，包括尚未出生者，若有任何的生靈，不論偉大或渺小，是善還是惡，我們都將懷著復仇與憎恨之心直追到天涯海角，直追到世界結束之日。 -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc), 來自: 59.115.103.9 ※ 文章網址: https://www.ptt.cc/bbs/Chelsea/M.1441448420.A.ECF.html ※ 編輯: JamesCaesar (59.115.103.122), 05/09/2016 02:54:55

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