The Academy under 18s slipped to a one goal defeat when they met Stoke City at Compton Park on Saturday.

But the side was much changed from the one that had succumbed to Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup earlier in the week.

Coach John Perkins explained: "As some of our players could figure in tomorrow's friendly against Újpest, and as they had played last Tuesday against Arsenal, we didn't really want them turning out three times in seven days.

"So we started the Stoke game with just five of the lads that had played against Arsenal and brought in some of our schoolboys including Ethan Ebanks-Landell who was playing only his second game at this level, and Zele Ismail who played his first 90 minutes for the under 18s. They both did very well.

"I felt we did enough to have won the game and we were certainly worth a draw so it was hard to take a defeat.

"We soon settled down in the first half but we conceded what turned out to be the only goal of the game in the 34^th minute after a defensive error following a corner.

"After the break Sam Winnall and Mike Wardle both beat the Stoke keeper but the referee ruled them both out - one for offside and one for a foul in the area.

"As I have said, the result was disappointing but when you consider how young our side was then I couldn't really complain about their display."

Pictured: Ashley Hemmings takes on the Stoke defence. (Pic courtesy of Faulkvalley photography).