Tony Carr will be hard at work again with his youngsters at Little Heath this week looking to build on the positives of a 3-3 draw with Southampton at the weekend.
Although frustrated to see the Saints come back from a two-goal deficit in the closing stages, there was plenty for the Academy Director to take away. Not least the contribution of forwards Jack Werndly, Danny Subuola and Ahmed Abdulla - none of whom has yet reached their 18th birthday. Indeed, there was also the debut at this level of substitute Dylan Tombides, the U16 striker adding late verve to the attack.
Further back, Conor Okus got a welcome run as a second-half replacement as the combative midfielder returns from a groin injury that has troubled him since the summer. Okus has been tipped as one to watch this season. Carr was also without the suspended Filip Modelski and sidelined Calum McNaughton and Cristian Montano - while Danny Purdy, another young striker, has been away on international duty.
Carr said: "It was a disappointing result as we had the victory there for the taking, only for a couple of lapses to cost us again. It was a game we should have won 3-1 or by a bigger margin. We were on top but gifted them their way back into the game. As the game went on, we got nervous and edgy.
"Both their goals in the second half were sloppy. We had a free-kick in their half and they went on to score and then the goalkeeper has made a mistake in the last few minutes."
Carr was not too hard on the 16-year-old goalkeeper Denis Mehmet as he has made tremendous progress and even had a taste with the first team in recent days. "It was a routine catch, he will do it again 50 times and catch it 50 times. It will be good for his development and the result is a setback for the boys but they have to go through these things. It isn't all ups and it makes them stronger as they rise through the ranks."
Ahead of next weekend's trip to Crystal Palace, Carr expected better over the coming days in the hope of realising a first win in seven attempts and reiterated his praise for two-goal Werndly and Danny Subuola, who added the other. "I am looking to see how they cope and bounce back. I suppose we should have won, but it is good we didn't lose. It is a point gained although overall t is two steps forward and one step back."
"We move on again and there were positives like seeing Dylan Tombides come on. He is an under-16 striker who we have got very high hopes for. He did very well and was lively. We are pleased about that. Jack got the start he has been itching to get.
"He took his goals well and hopefully will gain more confidence from that. Danny also scored and it is good for the forwards. We have just got to stop conceding at the other end and we will get a win. We are missing second-years in the squad and we are young at the moment. We are doing well in stages but we can't sustain it for 90 minutes but they will learn and they will see the benefit."