Wolves Academy boss Kevin Thelwell will be looking for a more encouraging start to the New Year after his injury-hit squad rounded off 2009 with a 5-0 home defeat to Everton.
Missing six of their regular first-teamers, the Academy under-18s followed up their FA Youth Cup exit to Liverpool and heavy defeat at Manchester City with another disappointing game with Everton not in keeping with performances for the majority of the season so far.
A first half header from Aristote Nsiala was all that separated the teams at the interval, but two penalties early in the second half from Ross Barkley and Conor McAleny put the Toffeemen in control.
McAleny then tapped home on the hour mark before Zac Thompson completed the scoring 13 minutes from time.
"The result was down to our poor defending," said Kevin.
"There wasn't a great deal between the two teams but we just gave some sloppy goals away.
"We're at a stage where we're missing five or six players with injury and are still fielding a very young team.
"There's no chance to take any players out who maybe we could do with giving a rest as sometimes happens in senior football.
"Regardless of whether someone is playing good, bad or indifferent everyone has to stay in regardless.
"The Christmas break has come at just the right time to regroup with what is a small group of players and get ready to go again in the New Year.
"We should also have the injured players back then as well."
Without simply dismissing the last three results, Kevin believes there are plenty of positives to take from Academy football over the first half of the season.
Not only the fact that they have collected a more than decent haul of points, but also that the likes of James Spray and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing also enjoyed being propelled onto the first team scene.
"I think we've done really well so far this season in terms of performances and indeed points," Kevin added.
"If we do the same again over the second half I think we'd finish with our highest points total for six or seven years.
"There have been three disappointing results and we wouldn't want to hide away from that but we shouldn't forget the positive things that have come before.
"We've continued to work with a young group at under-18 level, with under-16s playing a year above in what's been a predominantly first year squad with limited second year involvement.
"And we've had boys going through to the reserves or even making their first team debuts or sitting on the bench.
"So we can't afford any knee jerk reactions although we will certainly be looking for an improvement in January."
