Barclays U21s: Fulham hit back to beat Man City

Cauley Woodrow scores twice to give Fulham victory in their opening match of the season

Manchester City 1-2 Fulham

Two goals from Cauley Woodrow gave Fulham victory in their opening Barclays Under-21 Premier League contest at Hyde FC.

City, watched by first-team manager Manuel Pellegrini, made the early running with Albert Rusnak, Marcos Lopes and Jordy Hiwula having chances while Seko Fofana hit a post. City took the lead on 31 minutes when Hiwula slotted past Neil Etheridge in the Fulham goal after a driving run from Fofana.

Woodrow, who captained Fulham to victory in the Barclays Under-18 Premier League last season, pulled a goal back on the hour with a low strike before adding the second 13 minutes later with a header into the top corner.

"We're pleased with the win, it's always good to open the season with three points," Fulham Under-21 manager Kit Symons told the club's website. "We didn't play particularly well in the first-half, and probably gave City too much respect at times. They created a few chances and went in front.

"I had a chat with the boys at the break, and talked two or three things through with them. Again, they showed great character to turn it around and in the second-half they played much better. There was a lot more urgency and energy to their play and in the end, for me, we were worthy winners."

Last year's semi-finalists Everton open their campaign on a busy Monday of action which features a total of eight matches.

The Toffees, led by coach Alan Stubbs, travel to Telford for their match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the New Bucks Head Stadium.

Everton put together a 16-match unbeaten last season before losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the play-off semi-finals and Stubbs is hoping his side can match the standards they set last year.

"All the matches seemed to be tough. You see from last year that the standard has risen and it will be no different," he told the club's website. "We'll go there and, as always, we'll concentrate on what we do rather than what the other teams do. We’ll go there, know our job and know what is expected of us.

"If we can have anything like the level we had last season with our performances and results then we will be very happy."