Match report: Villa U18s 4-2 Cardiff City U18s
Aston Villa FC
Wednesday 8th November 2017
Villa won a six-goal thriller against Cardiff City to stay in the hunt for top spot in the Barclays Premier Academy League.
Skipper Daniel Johnson and Irish striker Michael Drennan hit two goals apiece for Tony McAndrew's team at Bodymoor Heath.
Drennan took his goal tally for the season to nine in all competitions with a crisp right-foot finish, before heading home his second following a fine team move down the left hand side.
And Johnson made two of his trademark driving runs from the central ground to bag his sixth and seventh goals of the campaign.
Coach McAndrew said: "Mickey is a typical striker - he thrives on confidence. He is doing well at the minute and his confidence is high.
"He scored two great goals and the pleasing one was his first goal. He is left footed and we are trying to get him to take chances on his right side so he doesn't become predictable.
"Fair play to the kid, he has bent one in with his right foot, which was really pleasing and it shows he is listening to what the staff are telling him.
"DJ does what he does well. When he gets the ball he drives forward and gets his shots off at the edge of the box.
"Some of the stuff we played was really good and we scored four really good goals.
"On the other side of the coin, we did look a bit loose at the back at times and we did look a bit sloppy.
"So there are a couple of things to work on this week, but it was definitely a good performance."
The claret and blues youngsters are back in FA Youth Cup action on Sunday when they welcome Middlesbrough in the quarter-final clash at Villa Park [kick-off 12noon].
VILLA: Barrett; Jenkins, Devine, Williams, Caira; Taylor, Nelson-Addy, Johnson, Burke; Carruthers, Drennan. Subs: De la Cruz (for Drennan), Watkins, Darkin (for Devine), Barton (for Taylor), Stevenson.
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