Lead Professional Development Phase Coach Adam Robinson believes his makeshift Derby County Under-18s side did well to adapt to adverse weather conditions after their 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough at Moor Farm.
The strong winds had a notable effect on play throughout the game which was goalless at the interval and lacking in clear-cut opportunities.
Middlesbrough took the lead with 20 minutes to play when Luke Woolston headed in from close range before a trialist levelled for the young Rams ten minutes later.
Robinson believes his side took a while to get into the game and counter the visitors’ game plan, admitting they were lucky not to concede earlier.
“It was a very scrappy game and definitely one of two differing halves,” opened Robinson. “The wind played a big part, and in the first half, we couldn’t deal with their press, and they dealt with the conditions well.
“We showed more courage in the second half to get on the ball and play, and we managed to play through their press a bit better just by wanting the ball.
“It’s tough to play against the wind, and they employed a very aggressive press when the ball was with our goalkeeper.
“It is harder to then play over the press with the wind holding the ball up, so they played it quite well, and we rode our luck a little bit at the start of the game.”
The Under-18s starting eleven featured four trialists, with the squad missing a few key players either due to promotion to more senior squads or injury, and their head coach is pleased with how the group adapted.
Robison said: “We’re short on numbers at the moment with a few injuries, and we are also looking for players for next year, so we had to get a few extra bodies in to see what they’re about.
“We’re at bare bones really throughout the club from the senior squad all the way down to the schoolboys, so it is tough to cope with players constantly moving between the squads.
“For that reason, it has been quite physically demanding on the players with us not being able to rotate, and that is where they pick up little injuries.”
There have been significant amounts of player movement between the youth squads and the senior team due to various reasons for this campaign.
Despite this, the young Rams have remained competitive and currently hold fourth spot in the Under-18s Premier League – North, and Robinson was keen to express his satisfaction at the fact.
“It is tough to maintain the team unity,” continued Robinson. “We have a handful of players who have featured consistently in the team that can take control of the group and keep that alive.
“I thought all the trialists made a solid contribution to the game, I think we needed more from everyone after the first half to get a hold of the possession, but they all improved after the break.
“We’ve been inconsistent in our selection and performances this season but are still positioned well in the league, which is a testament of the characters within the group as a whole.”
Words: Sam Allen