Under-18s head coach Richard Walker felt his side did enough to take all three points away from Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Despite taking a well-deserved lead through Fraser Harper, the youngsters were made to settle for a point following a fortunate Forest equaliser in their favour. However, Walker has praised his players for their performance levels in a period which has been testing for the group, with games aplenty in different competitions since coming back from South Korea. Walker has also touched on the impressive transition Luke Rawlings and Wes Okoduwa have made as two under-16 players coming in to start at U18 Premier League level in recent weeks.
On doing enough to win the game
“The message to the players in there was that they’ve done enough to win the game. Unfortunately sometimes individual mistakes can cost you, but that’s all part of development.
“It was a good performance and I’m really pleased with all aspects. It’s just a shame that the boys didn’t get the three points that the performance deserved.”
On opening the scoring
“I felt eventually the goal would come. I did feel it might’ve been a one goal game and by and large it kind of was.
“In terms of the goal itself, Fraser (Harper) has done really well to regain it high and showed good composure to put it away.
“I thought that would be enough. We defended well and also defended well with the ball – once we were ahead we had good control and if anyone was going to score I felt it was going to be us.
“Unfortunately that wasn’t the case and one moment changes the game and we come away having to settle for a point.”
On pressing from the front
“We want to go on the front foot and we know every now and then we’ll get picked off doing it, but the lads showed real belief to do it.
“It’s good anticipation from Fraser and he gets a big chance off the back of his hard work and his running. He took it well.
“The players at the top end of the pitch are a massive part of both our in possession and out of possession game plan.
“It’s great that they get their reward of a goal because it just dangles the carrot to encourage them to do it more and more.”
On the transition of under-16s into the squad
“They’ve (Luke Rawlings and Wes Okoduwa) settled in really well. First and foremost, they’re really good characters and then they’ve also got the ability that we believe warrants getting a good taste of under-18s football.
“We’re managing it well as a staff to make sure at times they’re getting a stretch at under-18s football, but also the consolidation with the under-16s.
“It’s important we have constant dialogue as a group of staff, the under-16 staff in Karl Broadhurst and Wes Hughes, and make sure we pick the fixtures at the right time.
“They both can be really pleased about how they’re going about their business and they’re looking very assured in the under-18s programme.”
On the demanding schedule
“Credit to the support staff in terms of making sure that the lads are well prepped in terms of recovery and fitness levels.
“It’s been demanding on the players so we’ve tried to mix things up within the squad as best we can, but it’s been demanding.
“Korea was very demanding and as soon as we came back it seems like game, recover, game recover.
“It’s been really testing, both physically and mentally for the players and I think they’ve coped really well.
“We go again on Tuesday against Blackburn in the under-17s Premier League Cup and then a tough fixture against Leeds next week.
“At that point, we can then give the lads a well-earned breather but until that point it will be all hands to the pump.”
