James Collins felt his side should’ve taken advantage of their better periods in the game, before eventually losing 2-1 to Sunderland on Monday night.
Wolves under-21s were beaten for the first time this year in Premier League 2 and head coach Collins has given his assessment of the defeat, as well as reflecting on recent first-team involvement for a number of academy youngsters.
On losing to Sunderland
“It was frustrating. It was a wet, blustery night. I actually thought we started the first three minutes really well and then the first attack they had, we were very passive and they got through us.
“We were the better team in the first half after that and, at times, we had the momentum. We didn’t push through with it, but that comes with experience and I think a first-team there would’ve seen that’s their moment to grab.
“We made a few little tweaks at half-time on the press which helped and I thought we got on top second half, but then it came very end-to-end.
“We got the goal and then it was very end-to-end after that. Maybe at that point, we could’ve maybe tried to get a bit more control.
“I thought someone would get a goal and I didn’t quite know who at that point. We made a bit of a mistake and they whacked one in for 2-1.
“The disappointing thing after that, with 10/15 to go, was we didn’t reset, go again and work some chances. I thought we got a bit frantic.”
On a first league defeat in 2024
“It’s our first league defeat this second half of the season, so we can’t grumble. The boys are having a really good go.
“We’re in the top six out of a 26-team league and we’re doing ok. We’ve got a really hard game next week against Tottenham who are flying.
“We’ve got to dust ourselves off, get to work in the week and see if we can work towards a better performance next week.”
On players dropping down for the game
“The first-team thing can work both ways. You’re getting good players back which helps. I thought all the boys who came down today did it properly and worked hard, but they haven’t had a lot of time to work with us on the specific tactics for Sunderland.
“That’s under-21 football. You can’t always prepare how you want to prepare but, more importantly, we’re trying to prepare them for first-team football.
“They have to learn to understand the tactics, learn to implement the tactics and learn to compete and fight to win football matches.
“At times tonight, we were a little bit loose and a little bit open. We probably gave them too many chances as the away team.”
On players in the first-team
“Circumstance has created that with injuries to key first-team players at an important time.
“It’s stretched the first-team squad and they’ve relied on some younger players. Some are more ready than others.
“It’s tough for them, it’s tough for the first-team, but it’s great that they get an opportunity. I don’t think anyone’s gone in and let themselves down.
“Maybe no one’s gone in and grabbed the position by the scruff of the neck. We can’t kid ourselves we’re doing everything brilliant because we’ve had one or two in the first-team but we’ve also got to be pleased and proud as an academy that the players are doing well enough to get opportunities.
“We’ve got to make sure the players we produce in the academy are ready for the gaffer because that’s only right for him, but also be delighted and pleased to get a second-year scholar (Leon Chiwome) on a Premier League pitch.
“There are plenty of positives but we’re certainly not sitting on our laurels thinking we’ve cracked it because we’ve got one or two in the first-team.”
