The young Magpies surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose to top of the league Bradford City on Saturday morning at Highfields...
Striker Jack Golding got the side off to a perfect start, nodding down a header at the back post from winger Reece Fyfe’s cross. And it was 2-0 shortly after when midfielder Elliot Hodge slotted home from inside the box.
However City reduced the arrears deep into first half injury time to change the game. Bradford then scored two more after the break, to make it 3-2, as they took control as the Magpies piled men forward looking for an equaliser.
Head of Academy Coaching Andy McMillan told the Official Site after the whistle: “It was the same old story unfortunately. Leading 2-0, we’ve conceded in the 49th minutes of the first half and that’s killed us after looking comfortable.
“I think they wanted it a lot more than us. I can’t camouflage it. They had more desire, work rate and energy. In terms of football they didn’t out do us, but at times you need that bit extra and fight.
“They lads can do. It was plain to see after 40-minutes that we were competing, but when we concede the heads drop. It’s four our four now and it’s not good enough.
“Unfortunately we can’t coach the players not to drop heads. That will need to come from inside the players. They need to have that fight and desire to go with the technical ability that we coach. They have to show that desire.
“We’ve struggled to score goals recently, so that’s another positive. We will back in on Monday and work hard again.
“We all know it’s about creating young footballers for the football club, for the Development Squad and the First Team, but unfortunately if that’s the standard that we are looking at, there won’t be many going through to that stage.“
The Youth Team will be back at Highfields next week when they face Chesterfield. You can see a full fixture list by clicking here.
Thanks to Andy Stokes for the images.