Academy round-up: Milestones, bragging rights and what to watch this week

Academy

1 Mar 2022

A brace from Jesurun Rak-Sakyi saw Crystal Palace Under-23s beat Brighton & Hove Albion in south London – check out all the latest from the club’s young sides in this week’s Academy round-up.

Bragging rights

At whatever level, a Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion meeting is always something to savour – and the Under-23s ensured it lived up to expectations on Monday afternoon.

In a bruising encounter at the Academy ground they weathered early Brighton pressure, pouncing on two defensive mistakes to emerge with three crucial points.

Rak-Sakyi got both the goals, a brace to take his personal tally for the season to 15.

Four on the bounce

As we reach the business end of the season it’s more important than ever to hit a run of form – and Rob Quinn’s Under-18s side are doing just that.

After a hugely impressive couple of victories against Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur – scoring nine goals in the process – Palace made it four in a row with a win at Norwich City.

Victor Akinwale scored the only goal, his 17th in just 19 games, as Palace climbed to within three points of the leaders Southampton.

Congrats, Tyrick

Yet another Premier League start against Burnley on Saturday saw Tyrick Mitchell record his 50th Premier League appearance, a phenomenal achievement for the Academy graduate.

Mitchell is the only player to have started every league game under Patrick Vieira, a measure of the confidence the manager has in him. But the young defender won’t want to stop there.

“I don’t want to tell myself I’m a Premier League player,” he told the Palace matchday programme this season. “I don’t want to do that to myself yet, until I’ve played half of the games that these guys in the changing room have played. I don’t want to see myself like that.

“Literally, you could play 50 games and then never play in the Premier League again. I want to feel like I’m always working for the next 50, and then the next 50. I don’t want to ever say: ‘You know what, I’ve actually done it now.’”

It’s been a whirlwind start to Mitchell's Palace career to reach his first 50 Premier League games, and here’s to the next 50 to come.

Coming up this week

The Under-18s face a huge challenge this weekend in their title pursuit as they welcome Leicester City to the Academy ground.

The Foxes sit in fifth, two points behind Palace, but have two games in hand; a victory could be crucial in establishing the Eagles’ place among the contenders.

Watch Academy games LIVE on Palace TV+

Watch Academy matches LIVE via Palace TV+

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You can see how the boys get on by watching the game LIVE via Palace TV+.

Academy
Tyrick Mitchell
Victor Akinwale

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