GRIFFITHS AT THE DOUBLE TO BOOK SPOT IN THE PLAY-OFFS

STOKE City under-23s are heading into the Premier League 2 play-offs thanks to Jack Griffiths’ double and a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion. Kevin Russell’s side knew they needed a win at the bet365 Stadium on Friday night to secure a top five spot and got it to finish third, booking a onelegged semi-final back at HQ against Nottingham Forest on a date this month to be confirmed. The winners will take on either Wolves or Norwich in the final.

It was 16-year-old Griffiths’ first goal that really caught the eye, a nine-pass move that started with goalkeeper Tommy Simkin and worked along the back line before a quick break forward for Will Goodwin to cross low into the sixyard box for the finish. Stoke hero Liam Lawrence, now a youth coach in the academy, said: “What a great team goal. Our talent coming through really excites me. I’m not one to tweet about the academy and the club since working there but I can tell you our academy is in a really good place with some good staff, players and coaches. The next two to five years really are promising.” He added: “I wish as a player I had taken more time to go and see the academy players to be fair because it can leave a lasting impression just having a chat with younger players and spending time with them. I did at Stoke and Pompey but looking back could have done more.” West Brom levelled through a trialist before Griffiths got his second in front of a decent crowd, Tom Sparrow got into the box with a one-two and chipped to the far post for Griffiths to head from nearly on the line off the underside of the crossbar. Fulham have gone up as champions, with 62 points from 26 games. Wolves finished second on 47, Stoke third on 43, Forest fourth on 42 and Norwich fifth on 39.