We spoke to youth boss Mark Birch following the FA Youth Cup second round victory over Barnsley at Oakwell.
“I'm absolutely delighted,” he said. “I'm delighted for the lads because they've had to dig in and it's nights like these that football's all about at this level, building memories and they've got one hell of a memory tonight to take away with them.
“We didn’t have much time to prepare for the game with a few of our lads being involved at Morecambe last night, so it was just a crash course.
“We picked up a few injuries from Saturday. We've had lads with the first team yesterday, so literally at one o'clock today we picked up the prep for the game and the lads had a right good go at it.”
The FA Youth Cup is a big occasion for the young lads, so we asked Birchy how they were feeling ahead of the game: “I think you're always going to be nervous. The FA Youth Cup is built up and, quite rightly, it should be.
“It's a massive competition in youth football and there's always going to be them nerves but it's all about experience and learning how to control it. There were a few nervous performances out there, but they’ll be better players for it.”
On the first half, Mark said: “We built the play up quite well at times but we just couldn't find the final pass or we lost concentration and possession.
“We said to the lads at half time, the build-up play in the first third and the middle third was quite neat and tidy, but it stands for nothing if you're not getting any end product higher up in the pitch.
“We wanted to play through the lines a little bit quicker and then start getting final entries into the final third and then entries into the box. We probably got it at times but not as much as we wanted throughout the game.
“We just couldn't find that final pass at times or get the final shot at goal. Today we couldn't seem to find that final pass which is understandable, people get a little bit tense in occasions like these.
“The main thing is we've got through the tie, the lads have had a hell of an experience, not just tonight but last night for some of the lads as well. All round it's been a great two days for the academy and the club.”
Lewis Lambert came off the bench to score, which he also did in the first round tie at Altrincham, Mark commented: “Lewis is one of those players who's got so much ability but doesn't believe in himself enough.
“If he starts believing in himself he could be a really good footballer, but we just want that little bit more belief. He's more than capable when he gets that ball on his left foot, like he showed in the last round.
“After the goal we just wanted to see the next five minute period through and that's what we worked on. We did that, then it’s about the next five minutes and just managing it like that. The lads worked their socks off tonight and I’m just so proud of them. They really had to dig in in the final stages to keep them out.”
In goal, Thomas Randall made some excellent throughout the match, Birchy agreed: “Thomas has been great in both games, not just his saves but his communication, his enthusiasm and keeping the back three on their toes. When crosses come into the box he's punching them away, then organising the defence. It was a great performance by him on the night as well.”
On the feeling when the final whistle blew, he said: “It's just a big relief because the target is always to get to the third round of the FA Youth Cup. It’s a great night for the lads. There are some brilliant celebrations going on in that dressing room right now and I think Jamie Devitt's in the middle of most of them.
“I think he's been chucking water on Ruddy and I think he'll be the clown on the way home. It's great. Like I say, it's all about making memories and that's what they're going to have, but we told them after the game, just remember that feeling you've got now and that's what you should strive for. You want as many of them memories and good feelings as you can going through your career.”
It's been a really proud week for the Academy, with some of the lads involved in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy game on Tuesday night, with Jonah Lowes making his debut: “Jonah thoroughly deserves it. He's been fantastic this year. He's just got to keep working at his game, and find ways of taking his game to another level and we'll do that with him.
“There's some other lads there who we'd love to push forward to the first team and they've probably been a little bit unlucky, but they've got to keep working hard and make sure that when that opportunity comes around they can grab it with both hands."
