Mehmet Ali was pleased with the leadership and determination shown by our Under-21s in their 2 - 1 win over Middlesbrough on Friday night.
Khayon Edwards gave us the lead with a fine finish in the first half, but Sonny Finch netted from the penalty spot five minutes after the break.
We stepped it up after the equaliser however, and got our winner when Michal Rosiak turned home Charles Sagoe Junior’s cross ten minutes from time.
On the performance…
“I thought it was a really good game, I thought our boys gave a lot. The staff, Max Porter and our analysts did a really good job because Middlesbrough have got some different things going on with how they play, with a back four or a back five and I think we had a lot of solutions for whatever scenario they threw at us.
“In the first half I thought we had a lot of control, we went 1 - 0 up which was great. Second half we obviously lost Jack (Henry-Francis) and gave away a poor goal, a few errors in the same sequence which led to a penalty but our boys showed resilience to go on and win the game, they were brilliant.”
On adapting to changes to the squad…
“It makes you really proud. In under-21s football that happens, even in first team football, you have to find a way of adapting, evolving and the message we give to all these lads is be ready.
“Be ready whether you’re playing u16s, u18s, u21s or even going to support the first team, and I thought our senior boys did that really well tonight supporting the younger lads.
“Special mention to Marli (Salmon) as an u16 stepping up, he had mock exams on Tuesday, trained with us yesterday and performed like he did today which was great!”
On the difference the more experienced players make…
“I see a difference in all the older boys, I think they have a really good level of maturity which comes with age and experience, going out on loan, playing men's football and being in and around our first team.
“I think all our senior boys, Khayon, Salah, Charles and Jack, they were excellent and we had a good blend tonight of some real young ones and some of the older boys who helped them.”
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