Sky Blues defender says JPT win and mature performance by a Sky Blues side strewn with Academy products speaks volumes for the future of Coventry City
Coventry City defender Jordan Clarke said the future looks bright for the Sky Blues after a young side beat Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 at Adams Park to book a place in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy second round.
Josh McQuoid netted the winner after 66 minutes to grab his second goal in as many games and make it five games unbeaten for the Sky Blues.
Two other big stats of the night though were the 11 Academy products that made up the 16-man squad, nine of which were on the pitch when the whistle blew for full time.
Clarke said: "We've obviously got alot of younger players in the side at the moment, I'm one of them although I'm probably considered one of the more experiences, and I think it showed tonight how much the younger players have come on because maybe we would have conceded in this game last season.
"It looks very promising for both the Academy and the football as a whole because although we have alot of young players with the first team, they wouldn't be with us if they didn't have the quality.
"They produced the goods when called upon and that is all you can ask of them. They showed they can handle this level especially considering this game was a tough cup tie which carries its own kinds of pressures with it when you are defending a small lead late on.
"Our goal though was well worked. Danny Swanson has done well to release the ball at the right time and Danny Pugh puts those crosses in in training all day, he has that quality. Josh has done well as well to keep the ball down and that's two in two for him so it's all positive."
Clarke also had a word to say about the prospect of a return to a near capacity crowd at the Ricoh Arena to face Gillingham on Friday.
"I cannot wait, it's just home. Everyone is excited to be back but we go back there with good form not having lost in five games so to take that run with 20,000 plus supporters behind is going to give us a massive boost."