U21s: Aston Villa 2-2 Middlesbrough

FixturesAston Villa U21 Vs. Middlesbrough U21 - Fri, Sep 18 2026, 19:00Aston Villa shared the spoils with Middlesbrough in Premier League 2 on Friday night, playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Bodymoor Heath. Jimmy Shan’s Under-21s took the lead early on thanks to Oscar Johnson’s deft lob, but it was Boro who took a 2-1 lead into the break after goals from Layton Campbell and an unfortunate Alfie Lynskey own-goal. But 16-year-old Johnson’s superb effort eight minutes into the second half dragged the Young Lions back level, before a Blade Earley penalty save on the hour denied the visitors from taking all three points and ensured the spoils would be shared.Jimmy Shan named another youthful side under the Bodymoor lights, with starts for first-year scholars Johnson and Josh Blake – the latter coming off the back of a hat-trick in Tuesday’s 5-1 victory over Real Sociedad in the Premier League International Cup. This time, however, it was Johnson who was the star of the show as far as Villa were concerned. The winger needed just eight minutes to give the hosts the lead, racing onto Markie Meade’s brilliant ball over the top and lifting a delicate lob over goalkeeper Owen Foster and in. But Boro provided threats of their own, and 10 minutes later, they were back level. Listowell Hinneh fed Campbell who finished confidently past Earley to restore parity. The visitors were buoyed by their equalising goal, and Earley had to be alert minutes later to parry an effort from captain Law McCabe as he took aim from the edge of the area.There was another let off for Shan’s side minutes later. Cruz Ibeh looked to dink a lob over Earley as Johnson had done when giving the Villans the lead, but the crossbar came to the hosts’ rescue as the score remained level. But with 27 minutes on the clock, Villa were behind in rather unusual circumstances. Lynskey attempted to hook the ball forward after being found with a throw from Rodrigo Fortes, but instead miscued his kick which incredibly spun all the way back towards his own goal, deceiving Earley and nestling in the bottom corner for 2-1. The Teeside outfit had the wind in their sails, and were looking for more. Rio Patterson-Powell cut inside onto his right foot and bent an effort narrowly wide of Villa’s far post, before McCabe volleyed over. But the Young Lions did well to regain their composure as the half wore on, and went in search of a second equaliser as the interval approached. Cole Brannigan lashed narrowly over the bar following a neat passing move, before captain Leon Routh turned an effort into the side-netting at the back post, minutes before the whistle sounded to signal the end of the opening period.The home side began the second half as they had ended the first, immediately looking to drag themselves level. And within eight minutes of the restart, Johnson had notched his and his side’s second, taking a pass from Blake before jinking past two defenders and firing brilliantly into the roof of the net. With two goals apiece, it was anyone’s game heading into the final half-hour, and it looked for all the world as though the next goal would be Middlesbrough’s, the referee pointing to the spot after a tangle between Routh and Ibeh saw the visiting forward go to ground inside the area. Ibeh dusted himself down and entrusted himself to take the spot kick, but Earley stood strong and dived the right way to parry the penalty away and ensure the score remained level. Back Villa came as they looked to turn the tide once more. Midway through the second period, Brannigan raced clear but fired an effort over, before Blake saw an shot blocked and Routh headed wide from the resulting corner.Both sides made changes as the game ticked into is final quarter, with the hope that fresh legs would help edge an advantage. With 20 minutes remaining, a long throw-in was hurled into Villa’s box, finding its way to the back post where Patterson-Powell could only turn his half-volley onto the roof of the net. Villa introduced Teddie Bloomfield and young forward Daniel Adediran as the affair entered its final 10 minutes, with proceedings still very much finely poised as both teams searched for what would have proved a winning goal. And Adediran’s opening five minutes from time was the closest either side came to clinching a third, when he turned a lob over the bar moments before Boro defender Josh Dede was dismissed for a second-bookable offence, as the match drew to a close level. The Young Lions return to action next Tuesday, travelling to Crewe Alexandra in their second EFL Trophy outing (ko 7pm), before they pause for the extended September/October international break.Aston Villa: Earley; Burgess (booked 73’), Carroll, Routh (c) (booked 60’), Fortes; Jenner, Lynskey (Boyd 67’); Johnson (booked 74’), Brannigan (Mulley 67’), Blake (Bloomfield 79’); Meade (Adediran 79’). Subs (not used): Garthwaite; Mudame, Quinn. Goals: Johnson (8’, 53’). Middlesbrough: Foster; Bangura (Wilson 46’), Dede (booked 71’, dismissed 86’), Okunola; Tika-Lemba, McCabe (c), Greenup (booked 13’), Patterson-Powell (Tohill 79’); Hinneh (Smith 89’), Campbell (Coulson 67’), Ibeh. Subs (not used): Connor; James. Goals: Campbell (18’), Lynskey (27’ OG). Upcoming FixturesBurnley U21 Vs. Aston Villa U21 - Mon, Nov 11th 2026, 19:00Aston Villa U21 Vs. Leeds United U21 - Sat, Dec 12th 2026, 15:00Arsenal U21 Vs. Aston Villa U21 - Sat, Dec 12th 2026, 12:00