Joe Gallen's thoughts on friendly defeat

There are no complaints from myself or any of the staff at the performance level but we are disappointed with the result" Joe Gallen

Joe Gallen said Wolves were pleased with the performance but disappointed with the result after tonight’s 2-1 friendly defeat at Northampton Town.

It was a much changed Wolves side – similar to that which took on Cork City last week – packed with young promise alongside a senior trio of Andy Lonergan, Conor Coady and Nathan Byrne.

It was Coady who set up Niall Ennis for his second goal in two senior outings early on, before Northampton hit back with a goal in each half to claim the victory.

With it being a younger side, Gallen and Rob Edwards took the lead, with Head Coach Kenny Jackett taking something of a back seat in the dugout, and so it was Gallen who fulfilled the post-match media duties.

“We are really pleased with the performance,” said the Assistant Head Coach.

“It wasn’t the idea to come here and get beaten so we are disappointed to have lost 2-1.

“But if you take an overall view and look at the performance – with Andy Lonergan, Conor Coady and Nathan Byrne as senior players – the rest were 21s and below and their attitude was really good.

“They played some good football and we scored a nice goal when Conor threaded a good ball through for Niall who finished it really well.

“The lads put in a strong performance which we knew they were capable of and I think the least we deserved was a draw.”

Seventeen-year-old Ennis continued his impressive pre-season to date with his second goal in around two hours of action so far at senior level.

“Niall scored in the game at Cork as well,” added Gallen.

“We are playing against a team that won League Two at a bit of a canter and have signed some players and are looking to go again in League One.

“And Niall scored in a way which made it look like he has been doing this for a very long time.

“It was a very good pass and then a very accomplished finish.

“We have got hopes for him – let’s see how it goes.”