Saints B earn first win of the season against Wolves with ex-West Ham starlet on trial
Southampton U23s followed their first team on Monday, bagging their first win of the season in the PL2 two days after Ralph Hassenhuttl’s men claimed their first three points in the Premier League.
The first team moved away from the bottom three and leapfrogged Leeds with a 1-0 win over Marcelo Bielsa’s men, thanks to Armando Broja‘s second half strike.
David Horseman’s side then matched that result on Monday afternoon, beating Wolves 1-0 for their first win in the PL2.
Southampton started the game with a trialist up front, reported to be former West Ham starlet Kai Corbett.
? I understand that #SaintsFC's trialist today against Wolves is 19-year-old Kai Corbett.
He left #WHUFC in search of more game time this summer. He was on trial at Wolves and was at one stage wanted by Manchester United.https://t.co/WjpXgjQ0I0
— Tom Leach (@TomLeachHL) October 18, 2021
Corbett, a highly-rated forward, turned down a professional contract offer from the Hammers this summer and departed due to concerns over playing time after West Ham brought in Thierry Nevers from Reading.
Corbett had a trial at Manchester United last year and also trialled with Wolves at the start of this season. Despite impressing and scoring in both trials, it is believed that a ‘large compensation fee’ has been the stumbling block on both occasions.
West Ham United youngster Kai Corbett on trial with Wolves; on the scoresheet in PL Cup
On his Southampton debut, Corbett was deployed as a centre forward in a 4-3-3. Southampton reporter Tom Leach praised Corbett’s hold up play in his post match piece for HampshireLive.
“Corbett was getting himself into some strong positions early on but appeared frustrated that he was not getting the service he required to find the net,” Leach reported.
“His hold-up play impressed, at one stage turning a defender on the halfway line, with his back to goal, as he started a Southampton counter-attack.”
Kazeem Olaigbe’s third goal of the season was enough to beat a Wolves side that contained £35m man Fabio Silva. Olaigbe converted from the penalty spot on six minutes.
Southampton remain bottom of Division Two with five points, but confidence from their first win of the season will be crucial as they look to climb the table in the coming weeks.