James Collins was delighted with the way his Wolves under-21s performed at both end of the pitch against Wigan Athletic’s senior side to claim three points in the Vertu Trophy group stage.
The under-21s got off the mark in the cup competition at the Brick Community Stadium on Tuesday evening as Mateus Mane scored a late winner after setting up Tom Edozie for Wolves’ opener, and the head coach was delighted with the forward’s display, but as much for his off-the-ball efforts than his match-winning contributions.
On three points away at Wigan
“It’s extremely difficult to come to these places. These are our hardest games; men’s football, playing against seasoned professionals and they’re really difficult – all the results in this competition for the under-21 teams suggest that.
“I’ve had a look at the last 10 games, and I think eight of them have been won by the league team, with one draw and one win for an under-21 team. So that’s the task at hand, so to come here and get the win, I’m delighted for them.”
The strike that got us going last night from Tom Edozie 🎯 pic.twitter.com/EmQUJPBN5Q
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) October 8, 2025
On being strong at both ends of the pitch
“I felt that you always have to defend well in these games. We started really well again and for 25 minutes at the start, we dominated. But what is difficult is that it’s a big pitch here, so to keep pressing and keep working, young legs tire, young legs fatigue, and I thought towards the end of the half, they got on top and we had to defend well.
“The goal we conceded was disappointing because it was when we were having a good spell of possession, but the boy took it well and we went in at 1-1. But in the second half there wasn’t end to end action, but we were right in the game, we competed, we defended well and we looked a threat on the counter-attack.
“Again, to finish the game strongly with a goal, they deserve it with the work they put in. You don’t come to these places and find it easy, it’s really difficult, and the fact we’ve come here and won, says a lot about the boys.”
On Mane’s performance
“He's top class. The best thing about him as far as I’m concerned, is not the impressive stuff, it’s the defending he does, the work he was doing for the team today, because we were jumping onto the pivot from our midfield which meant he had to come around and mark the midfield player when the ball was on the other side and he did it diligently, time after time.
“I thought his off the ball work tonight was magnificent, and that will hold him in good stead. And then his footballing ability; he can handle the ball, he can handle contact, and then he’s got that bit of class as well.
“For his age, he’s a super prospect, and that work he does off the ball for the team makes him even better.”
"These are our hardest games, men's football. I'm proud."
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) October 7, 2025
James Collins on tonight's @VertuTrophy victory ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/hpuIbWgQIX
On the international break plan
“The boys that are going [to their national teams] have already gone, Macca [Makenzie Bradbury] and Wes [Okoduwa]. We’ve got an in-house game with the first-team at the weekend, which is brilliant for our boys, to play against some really good players from the ones who are left over from them.
“Then we’ll get a couple of days off after that and then we’ll build towards the next game. Keep trying to improve, keep trying to get better.
“It’s not like a first-team season when it’s game orientated, it’s development orientated, so it will give us a chance to do some individual work, a chance to do work to help the boys become better players, which is not easy when the games are coming thick and fast because you’re always preparing for game after game, so this break will give them time to have a bit of a breather, but also do that individual work that they need.”
