Tony Carr may have seen his Under-18 side lose their first game of the season at the weekend but the youth academy director said his players would learn much from the experience.
A youthful side, without the likes of reserve-team regulars such as Jordan Spence, Bondz 'Gala, Junior Stanislas and even the previous week's two-goal hero Freddie Sears, were outmuscled in a 2-0 defeat at Birmingham City. "We had our moments, but it wasn't to be," said Carr, who admitted the game could have turned had there been better fortune for Balint Bajner when his second-half effort hit the post.
"But we were against a very aggressive team that came at us with a very direct style. We found it very difficult and we didn't get it down and play any football. That was the most disappointing thing for me, not the defeat. We didn't control the game in any way shape or form. They squeezed us and pressed us."
Given the way the game panned out, Carr will look for his players to take plenty from the contest which was the first defeat after five games this campaign. "It is all part of the learning curve for us and we will pick ourselves up and go on to the next game. They scored two avoidable goals from free-kicks, which set the pattern and gave them the confidence. It was disappointing but these are things we can work on in training."
CLICK HERE FOR THE MATCH REPORT