Coach Hughie McAuley is looking for a reaction from his players in Saturday’s Premier Academy League home clash with Crewe.
The Reds came back down to earth after their FA Youth Cup triumph over Chelsea as they were hammered 4-0 at West Brom last weekend.
McAuley’s men were second best throughout and conceded two goals in each half.
“It was a disappointing performance but that’s youth football for you,” he said.
“You have to take the good times when you beat Chelsea in the Youth Cup and the bad times when you get thrashed by West Brom.
“There were too many defensive lapses and we gave them too much space all over the park.
“They controlled the game and we never really got at them. It was just a bad day at the office for us - you get that sometimes when you are trying to develop youngsers.
“You just have to learn from it and move on. We’ve put a lot of hard work in this week to put things right.
“We need to get back to form ahead of the next round of the Youth Cup.”
The Reds sorely missed the attacking talents of Laurie Dalle Valle, James Ellison and Nathan Eccleston.
Dalle Valle (ankle ligaments) and James Ellison (back) missed out through injury, while Eccleston served a one-match ban.
David Amoo and Alex Cooper failed to take a couple of early chances and the defeat left the Reds still searching for their first league victory of 2009.
“We changed the team around and gave some game time to those in the squad who haven’t been playing regularly, but unfortunately the boys just didn’t get going at all,” McAuley added.
“West Brom were brighter and more up for the game than we were, so full credit to them. It was a bit of a hiding for our lads and we can’t say it wasn’t deserved.
“There wasn’t too much to shout about for us. Joe Kennedy and Thomas Ince did okay, but we struggled.”
The good news is that Dalle Valle and Eccleston are expected to return to action this weekend, while McAuley hopes to have Ellison back for for the FA Youth Cup quarter-final with Bolton at Anfield a week tomorrow.
Thomas Ince is part of John Peacock’s England under-17s squad for the Algarve Tournament in Portugal this weekend.
The Reds came back down to earth after their FA Youth Cup triumph over Chelsea as they were hammered 4-0 at West Brom last weekend.
McAuley’s men were second best throughout and conceded two goals in each half.
“It was a disappointing performance but that’s youth football for you,” he said.
“You have to take the good times when you beat Chelsea in the Youth Cup and the bad times when you get thrashed by West Brom.
“There were too many defensive lapses and we gave them too much space all over the park.
“They controlled the game and we never really got at them. It was just a bad day at the office for us - you get that sometimes when you are trying to develop youngsers.
“You just have to learn from it and move on. We’ve put a lot of hard work in this week to put things right.
“We need to get back to form ahead of the next round of the Youth Cup.”
The Reds sorely missed the attacking talents of Laurie Dalle Valle, James Ellison and Nathan Eccleston.
Dalle Valle (ankle ligaments) and James Ellison (back) missed out through injury, while Eccleston served a one-match ban.
David Amoo and Alex Cooper failed to take a couple of early chances and the defeat left the Reds still searching for their first league victory of 2009.
“We changed the team around and gave some game time to those in the squad who haven’t been playing regularly, but unfortunately the boys just didn’t get going at all,” McAuley added.
“West Brom were brighter and more up for the game than we were, so full credit to them. It was a bit of a hiding for our lads and we can’t say it wasn’t deserved.
“There wasn’t too much to shout about for us. Joe Kennedy and Thomas Ince did okay, but we struggled.”
The good news is that Dalle Valle and Eccleston are expected to return to action this weekend, while McAuley hopes to have Ellison back for for the FA Youth Cup quarter-final with Bolton at Anfield a week tomorrow.
Thomas Ince is part of John Peacock’s England under-17s squad for the Algarve Tournament in Portugal this weekend.
No comments:
Post a Comment