2016 Premier League 2: Monday's U23 Results, Latest Tables and Schedule
Everton regained the Premier League 2 Group 1 top spot with a routine 2-0 win over Manchester United on Monday.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin gave the Toffees an early lead after a major defensive lapse from United, and Oumar Niasse doubled their lead after half-time.
Norwich City got their first win of the season against Fulham, and Newcastle United beat Swansea City. Here's a look at Monday's results:
| Blackburn U23 | 3-2 | Wolves U23 |
| Derby U23 | 2-1 | Reading U23 |
| Everton U23 | 2-0 | Manchester United U23 |
| Fulham U23 | 0-1 | Norwich U23 |
| Middlesbrough U23 | 1-2 | Aston Villa U23 |
| Newcastle Utd U23 | 3-2 | Swansea U23 |
| West Brom U23 | 2-1 | Stoke City U23 |
| West Ham U23 | 0-0 | Brighton U23 |
The latest Premier League 2 standings:
| 1. | Everton U23 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 15:2 | 15 |
| 2. | Southampton U23 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12:7 | 13 |
| 3. | Liverpool U23 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 18:11 | 12 |
| 4. | Manchester City U23 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12:9 | 11 |
| 5. | Sunderland U23 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10:10 | 10 |
| 6. | Reading U23 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10:12 | 9 |
| 7. | Chelsea U23 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11:8 | 8 |
| 8. | Manchester United U23 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6:8 | 8 |
| 9. | Tottenham U23 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 9:14 | 6 |
| 10. | Arsenal U23 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6:13 | 6 |
| 11. | Derby U23 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8:14 | 3 |
| 12. | Leicester U23 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6:15 | 2 |
| 1. | Swansea U23 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12:9 | 12 |
| 2. | West Brom U23 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 11:8 | 12 |
| 3. | West Ham U23 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10:5 | 11 |
| 4. | Wolves U23 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13:11 | 10 |
| 5. | Blackburn U23 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7:5 | 10 |
| 6. | Newcastle Utd U23 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10:11 | 10 |
| 7. | Fulham U23 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7:5 | 9 |
| 8. | Middlesbrough U23 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6:6 | 8 |
| 9. | Aston Villa U23 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9:11 | 7 |
| 10. | Brighton U23 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3:4 | 6 |
| 11. | Stoke City U23 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4:9 | 4 |
| 12. | Norwich U23 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2:10 | 3 |
Here's a look at the upcoming schedule:
| Friday, Oct. 14 | Arsenal U23 | Southampton U23 |
| Friday, Oct. 14 | Stoke City U23 | Middlesbrough U23 |
| Friday, Oct. 14 | Tottenham U23 | Manchester City U23 |
| Friday, Oct. 14 | Wolves U23 | Newcastle Utd U23 |
| Friday, Oct. 14 | Leicester U23 | Chelsea U23 |
| Monday, Oct. 17 | Aston Villa U23 | West Ham U23 |
| Monday, Oct. 17 | Brighton U23 | Blackburn U23 |
| Monday, Oct. 17 | Norwich U23 | West Brom U23 |
| Monday, Oct. 17 | Reading U23 | Everton U23 |
| Monday, Oct. 17 | Swansea U23 | Fulham U23 |
Recap
United fielded a young starting XI with some Premier League experience, with onlookers keeping an eye on in-form Axel Tuanzebe and goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. Niasse got the start for the Toffees, who entered the match in fantastic form.
As shared by United's official Twitter account, the hosts showed their attacking intentions early:
Gethin Jones put Johnstone to work with a cross that almost landed in the back of the net, and the United stopper blocked several more shots in the first 15 minutes.
Everton took the lead after a dreadful mistake from Regan Poole, who came into the match as one of United's top performers of the last few weeks. The defender played a poor back-pass for Johnstone, allowing Calvert-Lewin to intercept the ball and easily slot home the opener.
The Liverpool Echo's Phil Kirkbride noted Everton deserved some praise for the goal with their high press:
The pace of the match dropped after that goal, although Everton remained the better team. Niasse in particular was a nuisance for the defence, but the 26-year-old has struggled badly for confidence of late, and it showed in his finishing.
Kieran Dowell tested Johnstone early in the second half, as the Toffees continued their dominance. The United stopper played a fine match but was powerless to stop Niasse from doubling the lead after 53 minutes, with the Senegalese nodding home from close range.
Per Kirkbride, it was Dowell who provided the assist:
It was another goal that could have been avoided with some better defending, highlighting United's struggles at the back on Monday.
Both teams made a multitude of substitutions after the second goal, but Everton remained in charge, and only a handful of vital interventions from Tuanzebe and Johnstone's heroics prevented further damage.
The win takes Everton back up to the top spot in Group 1, while United remain in eighth place.
Elsewhere, Swansea City suffered their second defeat of the season, and with West Ham United drawing against Brighton & Hove Albion and West Bromwich Albion beating Stoke City, the three top teams in Group 2 are now just one point apart.
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