Academy Coach Oran Thompson reviews U17s narrow away loss at Burton Albion
- BUrton Albion 2-1 Town U17s
- Evander Grubb put Town in front
- Comments from Oran Thompson below
A young Huddersfield Town u17 side narrowly lost out 2-1 away to Burton Albion on Saturday 4 December.
Having taken the lead through Evander Grubb after he was played through by captain Michael Stone, the home side turned the match around thanks to a brace from Callum Niven.
Town did have chances to take an earlier lead through Stone himself after being teed up by Hakeem Sandah, but Albion keeper Lewis saved well. Despite the home side scoring either side of half-time to take the lead, Town did have chances to make it level, with Joseph Johnson getting in behind and forcing Lewis in to another good stop.
Commenting on the match, Academy Coach Oran Thompson was pleased with how the young side stuck to their game plan and adapted well to playing in a different way than usual.
“It was a majority of Under-17s that played, with some Under-16s triallists also involved. With the FA Youth Cup this week, we could give some minutes to those who might be called upon.
“The game plan was to go there and give ourselves a different challenge. We set up in a mid-block, quite solid, and the challenge was to follow a game plan, which they did really well. It was pleasing to see them take that information on well and you could see the confidence grow throughout the game as they got more chances.
“The lads told us after the match how much they had got out from the experience and even enjoyed playing more strictly to defined plan, adapting to a different way of playing. We’re usually quite a high-press team and they did well making that change.
“Burton were U19s really given the league we’re in, so our boys are really young compared, giving them a different challenge physically as well, which they coped well with and that’s another big tick.
“I’ve been through it, and know the situations the lads are in. I’m aware that it doesn’t always go your way, so I can help them get through those moments which they can then use in games and in training.”
Town’s Under-18s will be in action on Thursday 9 December against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road in the Third Round of the FA Youth Cup. CLICK HERE to find out more about that game, which you can attend for free!
