Academy manager Ross McNeilly reacts on a disappointing FA Youth Cup exit at the hands of Yeovil Town under the EBB lights:
On whether the result reflected the game.
“I thought the result was harsh, but I thought we were our own worst enemy really. When it went 3-1 I thought it was disappointing not to ride that wave.”
On the tactics going into the game.
“Our game plan initially was to press and start a bit higher but if you watch the game in the first five minutes we were very deep. The target was always to win the ball higher and I thought we gave them a bit too much respect if I’m honest.
On the difference at half time being 2-0 down.
“I thought the first half was pretty even, we had a chance with Danilo (Pereira) which if that goes in it could have been different. Obviously their number 9 was very different and that was essentially the difference coming in at half time”
On last seasons player of the year Danilo Pereira’s performance.
“He’s a great player and there’s some good players in that group like Reece (Wylie) and they’re a good team and a great group of boys to work with and with Danilo just coming back into it I thought he was excellent second half”
On how we played in possession.
“I thought it could have been better, we’ve taught them different ways of getting out of a press. Yeovil pressed really really high and I felt we could have maybe played over it a bit better.”
On the referee’s decision for the Yeovil penalty and free kick both resulting in goals.
“It’s no stress, it is what it is. He gave us a penalty as well. We aren’t going to point fingers at referees when we haven’t really done enough”
On Yeovil’s dominance in the closing stages of the game.
“When it went to 3-0, we just chased it and the game plan went out the window. We became so disorganised. It didn’t need to get to that and that was from both teams as well.
